Podcasts about Westminster Choir College

Today on Daybreak, we explore the legal situation surrounding Westminster Choir College, the refusal to drop charges against pro-Palestine protesters, and Taylor Swift's endorsement of Kamala Harris---https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/section/news

Local government in Princetown, New Jersey is looking to take over the land once home to a world renowned choral educational institution, the Westminster Choir College. Plus, WNYC's Sean Carlson talks with Michael Bellia, president of the Fordham University College Republicans, and New York City Councilman Chi Osse about the issues important to Gen Z voters ahead of Tuesday's presidential debate.

 Today, we cover lawnparties, Princeton's town council's plan to buy Westminster Choir College's property, and new information regarding the shooting at a Georgia high school last week. ###https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/section/news

“I have fallen deeply in love with looking at a piece, seeing what it is, and realizing that there are no real absolutes in music. There are no rules. You have to look at each piece of music for what it is and consider it in its historical and cultural context and then find out enough about the composer. It feels like a journey, a rabbit hole that go down.”Dr. Elizabeth Schauer serves as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Arizona, where she is in her twentieth year of teaching. An award-winning educator, Dr. Schauer directs the Symphonic Choir and teaches graduate courses in conducting and choral literature. In addition, she served as Chancel Choir director at St. Mark's United Methodist Church. She came to the University of Arizona following ten years as Director of Choral Activities at Adams State College in Colorado.  Dr. Schauer is in demand as an adjudicator, clinician, presenter and guest conductor throughout the United States, including recently for performances at Carnegie Hall and with Georgia, Connecticut and New Mexico All-State Choirs.  Choirs under her direction have been selected by audition and invited to perform on local, state and regional conferences of American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, College Music Society, and American Guild of Organists.  In addition her choirs have been featured on the ACDA National YouTube Channel and the Community Concert Series of KUAT-FM Classical Radio, and are regularly invited to collaborate, notably with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Arizona Symphony and the UA Wind Ensemble. She has presented sessions at the national conventions of American Choral Directors Association, Presbyterian Association of Musicians, and College Music Society; regional conferences of ACDA, and state conferences of ACDA and National Association for Music Education. Dr. Schauer holds degrees from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Westminster Choir College, and University of Michigan.To get in touch with Betsy, you can find her on Facebook: @betsy.schauer.9. You can find more about the University of Arizona choral program on Facebook (@uarizonachoirs) or Instagram (@uarizonachoirs) or visit their website: choral.music.arizona.edu, where you can find their Distinguished Speakers Series and discover more information about the DEI Choral Literature Intensive.Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

Send us a Text Message.I am so grateful to the writer and musician, music historian and public musicologist , Sarah Fritz, for joining us on today's episode of "Inside the Taubman Approach." I am also so grateful for amazing women like Clara Schumann who blazed the trail for us all in music. I see so many parallels in the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman and Edna Golandsky. These women have sacrificed so much in bringing this body of knowledge to us for our benefit. They have pressed on despite criticism and even opposition. Friends - we want you to be involved in the Golandsky Institute. Come and join us. Sign-up on our website today. www.golandskyinstitute.org.  Sarah brings to us so many insights into the pianistic world of the 19th century through the experience of Clara Schumann. We even get into hand and arm treatments in the 19th century that include milk and animal carcasses. Stick around for that incredible story.  Sarah Fritz is a writer and musician, music historian and public musicologist specializing in the composer Clara Wieck-Schumann. Her passionate advocacy for marginalized composers on social media seeks to change the dialogue around classical music, challenging the misbelief that all great composers in history were cis white men. She's an in-demand guest speaker and lecturer, most recently at the Philadelphia Orchestra's pre-concert talks, WWFM The Classical Network, Northeastern University, and the launch of the Cambridge University Press's Clara Schumann Studies. In 2024, she will appear in the new documentary Mozart's Sister from Media Stockade.Sarah has written about Clara Schumann for numerous publications including the New York Times and VAN Magazine. Her popular (formerly known as) Twitter account is dedicated to telling truths and debunking myths around the infamous Madame Schumann. With overlooked research and a modern feminist lens, she places Clara's life and music within the context of popular history. Her fresh perspective on Clara's correspondence challenges traditional narratives around the composer's personal and professional relationships with her husband Robert and her “beloved friend” Johannes Brahms.Sarah is the founder of the Clara Schumann Channel blog, newsletter, and YouTube Channel. Her platform is studied in public musicology courses, and her articles are quoted in program notes and academic publications. She holds an M.M. from the Eastman School of Music and a B.M. from Westminster Choir College and also teaches on the faculty of the The Golandsky Institute's mission is to provide cutting-edge instruction to pianists based on the groundbreaking work of Dorothy Taubman. This knowledge can help them overcome technical and musical challenges, cure and prevent playing-related injuries, and lead them to achieve their highest level of artistic excellence.Please visit our website at: www.golandskyinstitute.org.

Big Machine Music general manager (and Laura's publisher) Mike Molinar joins the podcast to talk about his philosophy on songwriter-publisher relationships. Mike shares his advice to young songwriters, the nitty-gritty of publishing deals, and how understanding the structure of those deals is the vital to your success. Mike Molinar brings over twenty-five years of experience as a music publisher and advocate for creatives to lead the publishing vertical of HYBE America and the sister company of the Big Machine Label Group. Molinar, who was named one of Billboard's Country Power Players each of the last three years (‘20-‘22), oversees all aspects of BMM which was named 2021 Publisher of the Year by the Association of Independent Music Publishers Nashville. BMM has been ranked as a Billboard Top 10 Hot Country Publishing Corp for six years running. With offices in Nashville and Santa Monica, BMM's roster includes the 2023 nominee for the inaugural Grammy Songwriter of the Year (non-classical) Laura Veltz, as well as hitmakers Jessie Jo Dillon, Geoff Warburton, Ryan Hurd, Matt Dragstrem, Sara Davis, Eric Paslay, Brett Young and Maddie & Tae, among others. The catalog features such global hits as “abcdefu”, “The Bones”, “10,000 Hours,” “In Case You Didn't Know” and 11 #1 hits co-written and recorded by Luke Combs. Molinar was named one of the 2021 Nashville cohorts for Harvard Business School's Young American Leaders Program. He is currently serving his 2nd term on the board of the National Music Publisher Association as well as a member of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) board. He also serves as a board member for the Academy of Country Music, Music Health Alliance and sits the Country Music Hall Of Fame Education Council. Molinar was named a Rider Scholar while attending Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1998 where he was inducted into the College of Media and Entertainment's Wall of Fame in 2021. He is a graduate of Leadership Music (2015) and a member of the CMA, ACM, AIMP and Recording Academy. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Molinar is a second generation immigrant of Mexican descent. He and his wife, Amanda, are proud parents of two young boys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I started to see the possibilities of what a youth community choir could be. Seeing that profound impact on a young woman was very transformative for me. After two or three years, everything that I did had more layers. There was a new potential of enhancement and community impact. The things that make me go like a volcano are about community, access to programs, and how to break barriers for participation.”Dr. Marcela Molina has been leading the Tucson Girls Chorus since 2006, first serving as Artistic Director and taking the helm as Executive Director in 2011. Under Dr. Molina's guidance, the Tucson Girls Chorus has grown significantly in programming and community engagement. With her leadership, the TGC has transformed into a vibrant and collaborative organization that creates access to inclusive programming for youth, and provides resources to music educators and support to their classrooms all year-round. Dr. Molina is also the Director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus.Dr. Molina was an honoree in Tucson's 40 under 40 for her significant achievements and contributions in her profession and community and was one of eight in the state of Arizona chosen for Cox Hispanic Heritage Month. She was selected as a finalist for the Woman of Influence Awards in the category Arts and Culture Champion and under Molina's leadership, the Tucson Girls Chorus was awarded the 2017 Copper Cactus award for Charitable Business sponsored by the Tucson Metro Chamber. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Dr. Marcela Molina holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and the University of Arizona. She has contributed articles to Antiphon, and the books Teaching through Performance in Choir, Volume 2 and Choral Reflections: Insights from American Choral Conductor-Teachers. She was named 2019 Choral Director of the Year by Arizona American Choral Directors Association (AzACDA), and she often serves as a clinician and guest conductor for choral festivals. Dr. Molina has served on the board of the AzACDA as well as standing committees for ACDA Western Division. She currently serves on the board of Chorus America.To get in touch with Marcela, you can email her at mmolina@tucsongirlschorus.org or visit tucsongirlschorus.org. She's also on Facebook (@marcela.molina.1612147) and Instagram (@molinamarch). Marcela recommends checking out the following composers: Colombian arranger Jorge Alejandro Salazar, Puerto Rican composer Diana Saez, and Melanie DeMore. About DeMore, Marcela writes, "I love unison singing to build tone and use it as a canvas of creative added writing, if composer allows."Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

Ronald A. Matthews joined Eastern University in 1992 and was appointed the 10th President of Eastern University effective March 1, 2018. Prior to this call, Dr. Matthews served as Professor of Music, Chair of the Music Department, and since 2010, Executive Director of the Fine and Performing Arts Division. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Dr. Matthews graduated from Central High School. Having received a Philadelphia Board of Education music scholarship, he did his undergraduate work in Church Music and Organ at Westminster Choir College where he graduated magna cum laude and received both the Senior Class Conducting Award and the Christian Leadership Award. Dr. Matthews received the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Temple University, during which time he was invited to conduct the Jerusalem Chamber Orchestra for a recording project in Tel Aviv. At the age of 23, Dr. Matthews was invited to join the faculty of Nyack College as the Director of Choral Activities. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Combs College of Music in Composition with an emphasis in Orchestral Conducting. From 1982-1992, Dr. Matthews was the Chair of the Department of Music at what is now Cairn University. For several years, he was a Thomas F. Staley Foundation lecturer/artist and served on professional and denominational boards and task forces. From 2005 until 2018, he was the Pastor of Worship Arts at Church of the Saviour in Wayne, PA. Dr. Matthews has conducted, recorded, and performed in France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Switzerland and the Vatican. He is a commissioned and published composer. He has performed and recorded regularly with his younger brother, Rev. Dr. Gary Matthews, in concerts and workshops throughout the United States and internationally. His older brother, Dr. John T. Matthews, is Professor of English at Boston University. Dr. Matthews' most recent release is a jazz piano Christmas recording, Holly and Ivory. Dr. Matthews is married to Pamela R. Matthews, who was raised in Oreland, PA and graduated from Springfield High School. She graduated from Chestnut Hill Hospital's School of Radiologic Technology. Mrs. Matthews is a registered Ultrasonographer and received her training in Ultrasonography from Jefferson University and Chestnut Hill Hospital. For over thirty years she worked in Obstetrics and Gynecology with Abington Hospital - Jefferson Health until 2017. She served as the President of the Home and School Association for the Upper Moreland Round Meadow Elementary School during which she raised funds for new playground equipment. For the Middle School, she organized a campaign resulting in the purchase of a new grand piano for the music program. Mrs. Matthews is an avid tennis player and is also interested in charitable and mission work. She has organized fundraising projects for Haiti and the Cherokee Indians in Cherokee, NC, and she has traveled to Cartagena, Colombia on a sports mission trip. Dr. and Mrs. Matthews have two adult sons.  

In this episode, Dr. Patrick Cooper talks about what it means to bring hip-hop into the music classroom. He discusses specific lessons or units he's used with his students, practical ways you can implement hip-hop lessons with even the youngest of students, and talks about new and exciting ideas you'll definitely want to try. Dr. Patrick K. Cooper is an assistant professor of music education at Florida International University. He teaches courses in research, curriculum development, philosophy, and creativity. He holds degrees in music education from Arizona State University (B.M., M.M.) and University of South Florida (Ph.D.). Winner of the 2015 Outstanding Emerging Researcher Award from the Center for Music Education Research, his research interests capture the intersection of creativity, inclusion, and performance. His publications can be found in academic journals such as Psychology of Music and International Journal of Music Education as well as practitioner texts such as The Music Technology Cookbook and The Learner-Centered Music Classroom. His book Broadcast to Podcast: Lessons from Radio for an Online Music Education is available through F-Flat Books. Dr. Cooper has presented internationally, nationally, and locally at conferences such as NeuroMusic, Society for Music Perception and Cognition, International Society for Music Education, Society for Music Teacher Education, and the National Association for Music Education Biennial Music Research and Teacher Education Conference. He has given workshops and lectures as an invited speaker at several universities including University of Southern California, Arizona State University, Illinois State University, and Westminster Choir College. As a musician, he has performed extensively as a double bassist, synthesizer player, and hip-hop artist. Prior to his appointment at Florida International University, he held adjunct positions with Eastern Illinois University and The Crane School of Music at SUNY-Potsdam, was a Presidential Doctoral Fellow at University of South Florida, and taught in public schools and community centers in St. Petersburg, FL and the metro Phoenix area. Connect with Patrick here: Email him at pcooper@fiu.edu Hip-Hop course on LEARN at F-Flat Books Broadcasting book at F-Flat Books Enroll in the Curriculum Design Roadmap Course Grab your free ⁠⁠⁠Simplifying Lesson Planning guide.⁠⁠ Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Make A Note: What You Really Need to Know About Teaching Elementary Music⁠⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thedomesticmusician/message

B.E. (Brittney Elizabeth) Boykin is a native of Alexandria, Virginia, and comes from a musical family. At the age of 7, she began piano lessons and continued her studies through high school under the tutelage of Mrs. Alma Sanford. Mrs. Sanford guided her through various competitions, such as the NAACP's ACT-SO competition where she garnered 1st place for 3 consecutive years in the local competition, as well as being awarded The Washington Post “Music and Dance Award” in the spring of 2007.Boykin then pursued her classical piano studies at Spelman College under the leadership of Dr. Rachel Chung. After graduating Spelman College in 2011 with a B.A. in Music, Boykin continued her studies at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey. During her time at Westminster, she was awarded the R and R Young Composition Prize just a few months shy of graduating with her M.M. in Sacred Music with a concentration in choral studies in May, 2013.Boykin's choral piece, “We Sing as One,” was commissioned to celebrate Spelman College's 133rd Anniversary of its founding at the 2014 Founders Day Convocation. She has also been featured as the conductor/composer-in-residence for the 2017 Harry T. Burleigh Commemorative Spiritual Festival at Tennessee State University. Boykin has been commissioned and collaborated with several organizations, including a number of ACDA divisions, the Minnesota Opera and the Kennedy Center. She obtained her Ph.D. from Georgia State University with an emphasis in Music Education and is currently an Assistant Professor of Music at the Georgia Institute of Technology.To get in touch with Brittney, you can find her on Instagram (@_klavia) or Facebook (@klaviapress). You can also visit her websites, klaviapress.com and beboykin.com.Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace HudsonExcerpt from "Stardust" by B.E. Boykin, performed by the WSU Treble Choir, Matthew Myers, conductor. Available from Graphite Publishing: https://graphitepublishing.com/product/stardust/

"Every time on stage when we connect with the choral music and I see the students moved or touched by choral music, that's the moment I fall in love with choral music. The love of choral music is affirmed again and again by the connection you make with these humans and the music."Xiaosha Lin is currently assistant professor and director of choral activities at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Prior to her appointment at Whitworth, she served as Director of Choral Activities at the University of Toledo and Assistant Conductor at Hong Kong Baptist University.Known as a dynamic conductor with her engaging rehearsal approach and expressive conducting, Lin was selected as a conducting fellow in several prestigious programs where she worked with Simon Carrington, Edith Copley, David Hayes, and Lucinda Carver. She was one of the semi-finalists in the national ACDA Graduate Student Conducting Competition in Kansas City, MO. As a chorister, she has performed regularly at the Kimmel Center, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center under the batons of Yannick Nézet Séguin, Alan Gilbert, Simon Rattle, and Jane Glover. Lin is a sought-after conductor, adjudicator, and choral clinician in both the U.S. and China, where she was invited to workshops and clinics for all levels of choirs. She has frequently adjudicated in middle and high school choral festivals in Pacific Northwest and Midwest regions. Lin's international background makes her an open-minded, sensitive, and well-rounded musician and educator. She is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community through choral music. She recently received the Inclusive Excellence Faculty Award for the 2022-2023 academic year at Whitworth University and currently serves as a member of the Diversity Initiative Committee at WA-ACDA.Lin received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at Michigan State University, Master of Music in Choral Conducting at Westminster Choir College, Master of Arts in Music at Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong), and Bachelor of Music Education at Xinghai Conservatory of Music (China).   To get in touch with Xiaosha, you can find her on Instagram (@xiaosha_lin) or email her at xlin@whitworth.edu. Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace HudsonPracticing Connection: Working together to help families and communities thrive.Jessica Beckendorf and Bob Bertsch host this exploration of personal and collective...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Teaching While Queer PodcastTeaching While Queer Podcast is a space for LGBTQIA+ educators, administrators, and...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Big Machine Music general manager (and Laura's publisher) Mike Molinar joins the podcast to talk about his philosophy on songwriter-publisher relationships. Mike shares his advice to young songwriters, the nitty-gritty of publishing deals, and how understanding the structure of those deals is the vital to your success. Mike Molinar brings over twenty-five years of experience as a music publisher and advocate for creatives to lead the publishing vertical of HYBE America and the sister company of the Big Machine Label Group. Molinar, who was named one of Billboard's Country Power Players each of the last three years (‘20-‘22), oversees all aspects of BMM which was named 2021 Publisher of the Year by the Association of Independent Music Publishers Nashville. BMM has been ranked as a Billboard Top 10 Hot Country Publishing Corp for six years running. With offices in Nashville and Santa Monica, BMM's roster includes the 2023 nominee for the inaugural Grammy Songwriter of the Year (non-classical) Laura Veltz, as well as hitmakers Jessie Jo Dillon, Geoff Warburton, Ryan Hurd, Matt Dragstrem, Sara Davis, Eric Paslay, Brett Young and Maddie & Tae, among others. The catalog features such global hits as “abcdefu”, “The Bones”, “10,000 Hours,” “In Case You Didn't Know” and 11 #1 hits co-written and recorded by Luke Combs. Molinar was named one of the 2021 Nashville cohorts for Harvard Business School's Young American Leaders Program. He is currently serving his 2nd term on the board of the National Music Publisher Association as well as a member of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) board. He also serves as a board member for the Academy of Country Music, Music Health Alliance and sits the Country Music Hall Of Fame Education Council. Molinar was named a Rider Scholar while attending Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1998 where he was inducted into the College of Media and Entertainment's Wall of Fame in 2021. He is a graduate of Leadership Music (2015) and a member of the CMA, ACM, AIMP and Recording Academy. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Molinar is a second generation immigrant of Mexican descent. He and his wife, Amanda, are proud parents of two young boys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I try to be flexible with the way I write for people. For me it's a service when I get commissions, so I want to be able to serve the community that I'm working with in the same way that I would tailor a lesson to my classes depending on what the students need. I would do the same for what an organization needs with composition." Conductor/Composer/Producer Anthony J. Maglione is a graduate of Westminster Choir College of Rider University, East Carolina University, and the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the Director of Choral Studies and holds the Robert H. McKee Chair of Music at William Jewell College. Under his direction, the Concert Choir was twice named Runner Up (2nd Place) for the American Prize in Choral Performance, College/University Division. In addition to his responsibilities at William Jewell College, he serves as Director of Music and Choir Master at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Conductor Emeritus of the Freelance Ensemble Artists of NJ Symphony Orchestra, and has served on the summer faculty of Westminster Choir College since 2011. Anthony also serves as the conducting teacher for Artefact Institute.An active composer, Anthony's choral works are growing in popularity and are published on GIA's “Evoking Sound” choral series. In the last several years his music has appeared at state and national-level conventions, on TV, in video games, and has been recorded on Gothic Records, Albany Records, and Centaur Records. Anthony's cantata "The Wedding of Solomon" premiered at the 2018 American Guild of Organists National Convention. In 2019, his work "On Life" was premiered by the Miami University Men's Glee Club at the National ACDA Conference. In early 2020, Verdigris Ensemble premiered his extended dramatic work "Dust Bowl" as part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project in Dallas, TX. He is currently slated for several more premieres throughout the United States during the remainder of 2023.As a producer, Anthony lends his ears to recording projects around the country and recently received national attention through his production work with Sam Brukhman and Veridigris Ensemble on "Betty's Notebook" by Nicholas Reeves.As a tenor, Anthony has appeared with many ensembles and currently performs and records with The Same Stream, the GRAMMY-nominated St. Tikhon Choir, and made his debut with Portland-based Capella Romana on the 2021-2022 season.A sought after clinician, Anthony teaches workshops regularly and has conducted All-State and honor choirs throughout the US.You can learn more about Anthony at his website: https://anthonymaglione.com/ .Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode from September 16, 2022, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson from Pexels

BRAND NEW MUSIC - "FEEL GOOD" SAMAR NEWSOMEis a soulful vocalist, fusion keyboardist, and diverse producer from Newark, New Jersey. Studying formally at Westminster Choir College and growing up with local recording artists and church musicians in the city of Newark, Samar was guided musically under diverse tutelage. He currently serves as the music director at Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, NY where he has worked closely with gospel icons like Bebe Winans, Israel Houghton and Darwin Hobbs to name a few.

BRAND NEW MUSIC - "FEEL GOOD" SAMAR NEWSOMEis a soulful vocalist, fusion keyboardist, and diverse producer from Newark, New Jersey. Studying formally at Westminster Choir College and growing up with local recording artists and church musicians in the city of Newark, Samar was guided musically under diverse tutelage. He currently serves as the music director at Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, NY where he has worked closely with gospel icons like Bebe Winans, Israel Houghton and Darwin Hobbs to name a few.

In this episode of JM International's ‘The Power of Music', we will talk about music and community. Prof. Lee Higgins is the director of the International Centre of Community Music based at York St John University and & Dr. Sarah-Jane Gibson leads the Ethno on the Road research. They will talk about their research into Ethno, one of JMI's music programs. We will discuss the state of music in academia, the ‘magic' of Ethno, and - of course - the power of music. JMI is a global network of NGOs that empowers young people through music across all boundaryies. For more info go to www.jmi.net or check out all the amazing opportunities for musicians at www.mubazar.com.   ---------Professor Lee Higgins is the Director of the International Centre of Community Music based at York St John University, UK. He has held previously positions at Boston University, USA, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, UK and the University of Limerick, Ireland. Lee has been a visiting professor at Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany and Westminster Choir College, Princeton, USA. He received his PhD from the Irish Academy of Music and Dance, Ireland and is the President of International Society of Music Education (2016-2018). As a community musician he has worked across the education sector as well as within health settings, prison and probation service, youth and community, adult education, and arts organizations such as orchestras and dance. As a presenter and guest speaker, Lee has worked on four continents in university, school, and NGO settings. He is the senior editor for the International Journal of Community Music and was author of Community Music: In Theory and in Practice (2012, Oxford University Press) and co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Community Music (2017). Sarah-Jane graduated with her PhD in Ethnomusicology from Queen's University in 2018. Her thesis focused on how identity is constructed through singing in a community choir, and if this influences broader identity formations, with a focus on Northern Ireland. Her research focuses on community and identity formation through engagement in musical practice. She has an extensive background in music education, having taught a wide range of ages and abilities in South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. Since completing her PhD she has been teaching at Queen's University, Belfast tutoring a variety of anthropology and music courses and conducting the University Chamber Choir. Currently, she also lectures at York St John University and runs a folk music ensemble. 

Matty (@teague.miller) and Kikau (@kikautown) speak to the amazing Van Angelo, who is currently at San Diego State University working on their MFA in Theatre Arts: Musical Theatre. At the end of the episode, Van recommends YouTube University, the College of Google, Google Chrome Extension: Transpose, Tik Tok, and Joe Deer's Acting for Musical Theatre. Van Angelo (they/them) - is a proud Westminster Choir College graduate and served as Director of Choral Activities for five years at the high school level. Van is currently a teaching artist for Moonlight Youth Theatre and New Village Arts. Select Regional Credits: Something Rotten, Memphis (Moonlight), Catch Me If You Can (SDMT), Seussical (Candlelight), West Side Story, Tarzan, Hairspray (Performance Riverside), The View UpStairs (Desert Rose Playhouse). Music Directing Credits: Leonard Bernstein's New York (NVA), Moana Jr. (MYT), Little Shop of Horrors, Seussical, and The Little Mermaid (VVUSD). Van has performed with the New York Philharmonic, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Zelda Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Van is a two-time Inland Theatre League Award winner, and a Desert Theatre League Award winner. Van is currently a Teaching Associate at San Diego State Universty and an MFA in Theatre Arts: Musical Theatre candidate.

"It's really easy for a teacher to work 80, 90, 100 hours a week. What does that do to a person? When I'm exhausted, I'm a less effective communicator. I am less prepared to deal with the emotional challenges of the classroom. I am less likely to give grace when I'm tired. Giving 100% of yourself is not an effective educational strategy. You can't give everything."Benjamin Hawkinson is Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Millikin University. There he conducts numerous ensembles including the University Choir, the True Blue Chorale (TB) and Millikin's premier vocal jazz ensemble OneVoice. Additional teaching responsibilities include courses in High School Choral Methods and Conducting. Ensembles under his direction have toured across the region with One Voice recently being invited to perform at the 2022 Jazz Educators Network in Dallas, TX, and at the Illinois Music Educators Conference in 2023. Recently Dr. Hawkinson served as guest conductor for the Millikin Decatur Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, and served as chorus master for Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe. Dr. Hawkinson is an active clinician, presenter, and researcher. Common presentation topics include vocal improvisation practices of the late Italian Renaissance, interdisciplinary interactions between music and the social sciences, and mitigating burnout through time new perspectives in time management. Dr. Hawkinson holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from Texas Tech University, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Northern Arizona University. To get in touch with Ben, you can email him at bhawkinson@millikin.edu. You can also find him on Instagram (@hawkinsonben) or Facebook (@ben.hawkinson.14).Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro episode to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson from PexelsGet The Fluff Out - Listen, laugh and enjoy GenX Music + Talk Get The Fluff Out! is a fun GenX Music + Talk podcast releasing 4 episodes per monthListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Bless Our MessLife gets messy! Which is why we created Bless Our Mess. Join us as we tackle life issues.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

We speak with Janine Dunlap Kiah from the SeniorLAW Center. The SeniorLAW Center is the only pro bono organization specializing in grandparent custody cases. Volunteer opportunities exist across the state from in-person pro bono representation to serving on the Center's hotline to advise and assist parties in need. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the SeniorLAW Center's Legal Director, Dana Goldberg: dgoldberg@SeniorLAWCenter.org Janine Dunlap Kiah is the director for the Pursuing Justice for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Pennsylvania project at SeniorLAW Center, based in Philadelphia, PA. In this role, she manages a federally funded statewide initiative poised to increase access to legal representation, education, and resources to older adults caring for children when the biological parents are absent. Prior to joining SeniorLAW Center, Janine practiced family law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 1997. She earned her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and a B.A. in Vocal Music from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. Janine resides in Philadelphia with her wife, two boisterous boys, and their black cat, Shadow. SeniorLAW Center – Protecting the Rights of Older Pennsylvanians PA Custody Statute on Standing: 23 Pa.C.S.A. 5324 Chapter 53. - Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS (state.pa.us) *audio editing, voice over & music by Nick DeMatteo

My guest for this special Father's Day Episode is John Cuk, from New York, USA. John is a conductor, musician, music educator and accompanist, and a dad of 2 girls.John started playing the piano at age 5, played the trumpet in a band, sang in choirs, grew up going to the theatre, opera and going to concerts, even though his parents weren't musical he was exposed to the arts. In school he sang in the choir and played in the band. He dreamt of going on to study to be a music teacher, as well as holding on to the desire to be a performer in his own right.He went on to study degrees from Manhattanville College and The Manhattan School of Music as well as post graduate work from Westminster Choir College and gained his Masters in Piano Performance.John juggled being a professional musician with being a full time teacher for many years, enjoying the grounding that being in the class room brought him.John's career in academia spanned 40 years. He has taught at Scarsdale High School, Somers High School, Middle Schools in Chappaqua, New Rochelle, Rye and at The Anglo-American School in New York. He retired from his position as the Director of Choirs at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY in 2018 after 16 collective years there.John has a varied background as a musician and educator. As a conductor, he's conducted choral and orchestral ensembles in Europe, South America and the United States. He has performed at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Marmorsaal, Schloss Mirabell (Salzburg, Austria), Teatrului Național de Operă și Balet ‘Oleg Danovski' (Constanța, Romania), Kennedy Library (Boston), Música Sin Edad (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Temppeliauki, (Helsinki, Finland) and The International Youth Orchestra Festival (Lucca, Italy).Active in musical theatre and opera, John has held positions with Music in the Alps International Festival in Austria, Opera Estate in Rome Italy, Utopia Opera and Dell' Arte Opera in New York, New York, Buck Hill/Skytop Festival in Pennsylvania, Westchester Conservatory's Summer Vocal Music Academy in White Plains, New York, as well as Musical Director for countless musical theatre productions both at the high school and college level.Guest conducting includes Ridgefield Symphony (CT), Chorus and Orchestra of Teatrului Național de Operă și Balet ‘Oleg Danovski' Constanța, Romania, Orchestra Sinfonica di Bacau, Romania in Italy, Moldova Radio Symphony in Chisinau Moldova, National Chorale's Annual Messiah-Sing-In at Avery Fisher Hall as well as choral festivals for Western Connecticut, Suffolk, Duchess and Westchester Counties in New York.He is active as a coach, accompanist, pianist and guest conductor. John performs frequently with singers and chamber musicians and is currently a staff pianist for The Bronx Opera.It is always interesting on these occasions to get the male parent perspective on things. I think it is something that many of us are interested in, it certainly comes up as a topic in many of my chats with mums. I'm very grateful for John for allowing me to delve deep and ask the big questions.We also chat a lot about a shared passion of choral music, choral singing and music overall.Connect with JohnConnect with the podcastMusic throughout this episode is taken from the public domain and therefore not subject to copyright.

SEUSSICAL COMPOSER: Stephen Flaherty LYRICIST: Lynn Ahrens BOOK: Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty SOURCE: The stories of Dr. Seuss (c. 1950s) DIRECTOR: Rob Marshall CHOREOGRAPHER: Kathleen Marshall PRINCIPLE CAST: Kevin Chamberlain (Horton), Janine LaManna (Gertrude), David Shiner (The Cat in the Hat) OPENING DATE: Nov 30, 2000 CLOSING DATE: May 20, 2001 PERFORMANCES: 198 SYNOPSIS: The wild world of Dr. Seuss comes to life as Seuss' various characters come together to tell the story of Horton, a lonely elephant, and Gertrude McFuzz, a shy bird, as they fall in love with one another.  Nathan Brewer argues for Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's Seussical as a significant show that, despite lackluster reviews and box office sales, went on to find financial success as a staple within community theatre and educational institutions, especially through the work of director Marcia Milgrom Dodge. Seussical's ability to redefine theatrical financial success, and public exposure, after its failure on Broadway, offered shows that were not commercially viable to become regionally successful such as Little Women, The Addams Family, and Be More Chill. Nathan Brewer is a director of theatre, opera, concerts, film, and events.  Directing credits include Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Washington National Opera, Park Avenue Armory, Theatreworks/USA, New York Musical Theatre Festival, numerous symphonic and pops concerts, and televised award shows.  Nathan is on the musical theatre faculty at The New Studio on Broadway at NYU/Tisch, and The College of New Jersey.  He has previously taught at Penn State and Westminster Choir College.   Assisting credits include Aladdin (Broadway), and Relatively Speaking (Broadway).  Nathan is the Founder & Artistic Director of Recreational Arts, a performing arts educational organization, with programs in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.   Stephen Flaherty is the composer of the Broadway musicals Ragtime (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC Awards, two Grammy nominations), Seussical (Grammy, Drama Desk nominations), Once on This Island (Tony nomination, Olivier Award, Best Musical) and Rocky. Additional Broadway includes Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (original songs) and Neil Simon's Proposals (incidental music). Stephen has also written four musicals at Lincoln Center Theatre: The Glorious Ones (OCC, Drama Desk nominations), Dessa Rose (OCC, Drama Desk nominations), A Man of No Importance (OCC, Best Musical, Drama Desk nomination) and My Favorite Year. Other theater includes In Your Arms (Old Globe), Little Dancer (Kennedy Center), Lucky Stiff (Playwrights Horizons) and Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein (Chicago's Jefferson Award, Best New Musical.) Film includes Anastasia (two Academy Award and two Golden Globe nominations), the documentary After The Storm and Lucky Stiff. Mr. Flaherty's concert music has premiered at the Hollywood Bowl, Boston's Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Guggenheim Museum and Symphony Space. This year celebrates Stephen's 32-year collaboration with lyricist-librettist Lynn Ahrens. Stephen and Lynn are members of the Dramatists Guild Council and co- founders of the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program. In 2015 they were inducted into the Theater Hall Of Fame. Upcoming: the stage adaptation of Anastasia. AhrensAndFlaherty.com. SOURCES Seussical, Original Cast Recording, Decca Records (2000) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Casey Probus and Lisa Ferraro Act Locally Co-hosts Wendy Sheridan and Robin Renée have recently been reminding listeners of the growing importance of local politics. Wendy takes a deep dive into her local political landscape in this episode by way of an interview with candidates Casey Probus and Lisa Ferraro: Casey Probus was born and raised in Rahway, NJ, where she lives with her daughter who attends a Rahway Elementary School. Casey attended Rahway public schools where she was a part of the 2003 State Championship Girls Basketball team. She currently works as a union mechanic and crane operator and is the first union employee chosen to lead an Employee Resource Group. Casey graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida A & M University and has an associates degree from Tallahassee Community College. Running for council at-large on the Casey Probus for Mayor team, Lisa Ferarro is a Past President of Indivisible Rahway and owner of Sonic Bliss Yoga as a local yoga and wellness instructor. Lisa graduated from Westminster Choir College with a B.A. in Music and is a proud union member of the Actors' Equity Association. She has lived in Rahway for 10 years with her husband and daughter. Also in this episode, Robin and Wendy celebrate four years of The Leftscape! They look back at the show as a whole and highlight favorite episodes from the season of Freedom. In The Artscape, Robin interviews Wendy about her current creative works, challenges, and inspirations. The day's 3 Random Facts bring levity with a ridiculous California law, a popular "Native American" poem which turns out to be fakelore, and some TMI about koala genitalia. There are even pictures! The News is much more sobering. The primary topics are the leaked draft of a Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Saturday's protests in Washington, DC and in many cities across the US, and the mass shooting in Buffalo, NY. The Leftscape will be on spring/summer break until July 13th. Until then, there will be some redux episodes for you to enjoy. Thanks for listening! Things to do: VOTE in your upcoming primary election. Check out the One United Rahway website. Like and follow One United Rahway on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to some favorite interviews from the Season of Freedom with Eliot Katz, Halina Brooke, David S. Schwartz, and Susan Billmaier. Attend the Balticon Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention and check our Wendy's work in the art show! May 27-30, 2022. Sound engineering by Wendy Sheridan Show notes by Robin Renée Fake sponsor messages by Ariel Sheridan Web hosting by InMotion Remote recording by SquadCast

Brian Gurley is the Director of Music and organist at St Paul Cathedral where he oversees the recital series which features Ahreum Han on Friday evening May 6 at St Paul playing the Beckerath organ. She and Brian joined Jim Cunningham to preview the event and the series. They both offer suggestions for how the organ can remain relevant in the world of flashing screens and electronics that compete for attention with Bach and Widor. Brian is back at home in Western pa having started his organ training at Grove City College then on to Notre Dame and University of Wisconsin and Ahreum relates her path from Korea to Curtis in Philadelphia, Westminster Choir College, Yale and now serving at First Presbyterian of Fort Worth Texas as Director of Music and Organist.

Sarah Fritz is a writer, singer, and public musicologist. Her passionate advocacy on social media seeks to change the dialogue around marginalized musicians and composers in classical music. An expert on the history of Clara Schumann, her popular Twitter account is dedicated to telling truths and debunking myths around the infamous composer/pianist. She's an in-demand speaker and lecturer, most recently at Northeastern University and at the launch of the Cambridge University Press book, Clara Schumann Studies. Her writing on Clara Schumann re-examines with a modern lens one of the most powerful musicians in classical music history. Fritz places Schumann's music and life in relevant context using overlooked research that includes fresh perspectives on Schumann's personal and professional relationships with her husband, Robert, and her close professional friend, Johannes Brahms. Fritz's work has appeared in numerous publications including VAN Magazine, The Schubertian, and American Guild of Organists Magazine. She maintains an in-depth research blog and a monthly newsletter on Clara Schumann with a novel forthcoming. Under her singer hat as mezzo-soprano Sarah Sensenig, she is a member of the voice faculty of the Westminster Conservatory at Rider University. She sings in the Philadelphia Orchestra's Symphonic Choir, this season's highlights including Beethoven's Missa Solemnis at Carnegie Hall and the world premiere of Puts's The Hours. She holds an M.M. from Eastman School of Music and B.M. from Westminster Choir College. Sarah debuted with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre in the title role of Handel's Alcina, and her other operatic roles include Fiordiligi in Mozart's Cosí fan tutte, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Nancy in Albert Herring, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, and Dido in Dido and Aeneas. She enjoys giving recitals with her pianist husband, especially in singing the Lieder of her favorite composer, Clara Schumann.  

Shawn Stewart – College Financial Aid and Career Navigation with Tom & Maria Geffers and Seth Greene Episode 042 Shawn Stewart Shawn Stewart is the owner and lead photographer of LightMaster Studios which is based in the Poconos. Before becoming a full-time photographer in 2018, Shawn was a Music Teacher in New Jersey for 22 years. He attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ where he met his wife, Carrie. They have been married for 25 years and have 3 adult children.  Shawn has had a passion for photography since high school, and in 2008 started LightMaster Studios as a part-time studio. In 2017, the family moved from New Jersey to the Poconos, and in 2018, Shawn made the switch for LightMaster Studios to be a full-time business. Shawn's passion has built this company from the ground up and we are excited to see where things will take it in the future!  Listen to this informational College Financial Aid and Career Navigation episode with Shawn Stewart where we talk about pursuing a career in the arts. Here is what to expect on this week's show: -A music education major as giving you several paths to a career in the arts -Combining your passion with your purpose to find fulfillment in your career -Overhauls needed in the education system to better align with the information age -Discovering gifts at any point in your life and fostering them -Photography as a viable career path -The skills above and beyond operating a camera needed for a career in photography -The ever-expanding frontier of online education -finding the willing experts in the area of your interest to share their expertise Connect with Shawn Stewart: Guest Contact Info: Instagram: @lightmasterstudios Facebook: @lightmasterstudios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The love of choral singing is woven throughout not only this episode, but also in Linda Tedford's life.  Find out about her roots, specific experiences that shaped her, and how she became a founder and conductor of Central PA's award-winning choral group, the Susquehanna Chorale.  Reflections on the importance of singing and finding her own voice will resonate with you in an impactful way, especially for those of you who already love singing or simply wish to begin! Linda L. Tedford is the Artistic Director, Founder, and Conductor of the award-winning Susquehanna Chorale, established in 1981. She is responsible for the creation of the Chorale's Educational Outreach program, which reaches hundreds of local student singers annually. Ms. Tedford is Professor Emeritus (Director of Choral Activities) at Messiah University in Grantham, PA. Choirs under her leadership have performed at regional and state conventions of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA); for the Legislature and Governor of Pennsylvania; and in several European venues. Her work is featured on over 16 professionally produced CDs, and her choirs appear regularly with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. In 1994, Ms. Tedford and the Susquehanna Chorale received Chorus America's highest lifetime award, The Margaret Hillis Achievement Award for Choral Excellence. Ms. Tedford is the 2011 recipient of ACDA-PA's Elaine Brown Award for Choral Excellence for outstanding lifelong work in the choral art. In 2013, she received Theatre Harrisburg's Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts in the Capital Region. Ms. Tedford holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Temple University, where she studied with internationally renowned conductor Robert Page. She pursued additional study at Westminster Choir College, as well as with prominent conductors such as Robert Shaw, Gregg Smith, and Dale Warland, and with voice teachers Robert Grooters and Thomas Houser. She is an active member of Chorus America and the American Choral Directors Association. Ms. Tedford is a frequent guest conductor and clinician. Links: https://www.susquehannachorale.org https://www.messiah.edu/info/21654/academics_in_action/2417/linda_tedford https://www.harrisburgsymphony.org Susquehanna Chorale website: Susquehannachorale.org Chorus America: Chorusamerica.orgAmerican Choral Directors Association: ACDA.org Co-hosts, Molly and Justin are Co-owners of www.ThePerfect5th.com

On today's episode, Scott interviews his friend, Ed Alstrom, a multi-talented musician, who holds a B.M. degree in Organ Performance from Westminster Choir College, where he studied classical music during the day, while playing jazz, pop and rock gigs at night. A highly sought after organist in the tri-state area, he can play seamlessly in all styles of music, in addition to singing, and playing keyboards. He has performed with artists that include Bette Midler, Chuck Berry, Leonard Bernstein, Blood, Sweat and Tears, various NY Broadway Pit Orchestras, and was a member of the pit band for the Uncle Floyd Show, a NJ/NY tv show that featured sketch comedy and live music. Ed was also a Product/Marketing Manager at Casio Inc., composing/arranging demo songs for their keyboards, while demonstrating products live on stage with legendary musicians Stanley Jordan, Herbie Hancock and Donald Fagen. In the field of religious music, he divides his time between being a church director/organist and Temple accompanist/choir director in NJ. In 2004, Ed fulfilled his childhood dream when he became the weekend organist at Yankee Stadium, and is still entertaining baseball fans in that role with his organ music. This organist, singer, and keyboardist, certainly GOT CHOPS! Follow Ed on Website: www.edalstrom.com Instagram: @edalstrom YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC46viM3LlL9LlKn4N2DdNkQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ealstrom Follow Got Chops on Instagram: @gotchopspodcast Listen to Got Chops Podcast on - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Pjh7tC3aTpeMFEhmn4fp4?si=699ae5b84e544cb5 - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/got-chops/id1587699754 - Anchor: https://anchor.fm/gotchops - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp5wwP8DvMPkqI4VM2VMlcufn6a-CzlHM Follow Scott on Instagram: @scottgrimaldimusic Twitter: @GrimaldiMusic Facebook: Scott Grimaldi - "The Color Of Midnight" Website: www.grimaldimusic.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gotchops/message

S3 Ep.1 Singer/Songwriter &Teacher Melody Steven's name says it all & How she started “Quarantunes” to heal the World during a pandemic This is a #OneMicNite Live Artist Session! **

Today Greg and Katelyn are chatting with Dr. Rachel Goldenberg, one of Katelyn's classmates! Dr. Rachel Goldenberg is a leading authority in singing and lung disease. Dr. Goldenberg's doctoral dissertation focused on the use of singing lessons as an adjunctive airway clearance technique for cystic fibrosis and her article, “Singing for Respiratory Health: A Literature Review” was published in 2018 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Voice. As an active and trained singing voice specialist, she frequently assists injured singers, actors and other voice users referred to her from medical professionals and the voice community. Dr. Goldenberg received her Doctor of Musical Arts in vocal pedagogy from Shenandoah University and also holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in voice performance and pedagogy from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. She previously taught voice, speech and pedagogy at Ambrose University and maintained a private voice studio in her native Calgary. Recently she has focused her work on helping people with lung disease to better coordinate their breath with the voice through individual lessons and the “Breathe, Sing, Move!” program created at Breathe Well Physio in Calgary. During our interview, Rachel told us about the “Breathe, Speak, Pace” voice skills program for people experiencing long-COVID. Rachel talked a lot about how she teaches breath training and breathing skills, and her and Greg discuss the importance of breath in stuttering management. Rachel explains why she was drawn to Speech-Language Pathology and what inspired her to continue to pursue her education. Throughout the interview, all three discuss the importance of music, and how singing can be beneficial in many ways, including in stuttering treatment. Rachel also talks about acceptance when living with a chronic condition, and explains the parallel she has seen between those with chronic lung disease and the experience of stuttering. Finally, Rachel gives some words of wisdom to Katelyn, her classmates, and any other students listening to the podcast! Music: Luca Dinu Production Team: Katelyn Mayo, Luca Dinu, Melanie Crane, Emily Murphy, Greg O'Grady, Dr. Paul De Decker

Ms. Williams was a first-prize winner at the NATS-CNYFL(National Association of Teachers of Singing Central New York Finger Lakes Chapter) competition. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College, a Master of Music from Ithaca College, and a Professional Studies Certificate in opera from The Manhattan School of Music. She is a volunteer artist for Sing for Hope and is one of the owners of the Sparkle Twins. In addition to singing, Ms. Williams teaches Pre-school and is also a professional commercial and print model. She most recently starred in the national Verizon Holiday commercial along with her identical twin sister. Which received over 2 million views worldwide. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicspeaks-podcast/support

Notes: This song began to appear Sunday morning, December 4th, as I was making breakfast, thinking about snowy drives through our town, looking at Christmas lights. It was one of those warmish, wet days with snow on the ground, so there was a mist lifting up from the snow, and the sky was the same color as the fields. December is a complicated month for me, with rich memories of so much happiness as a child, and difficult loss as an adult...  the longing to connect with and create happiness for all whom I love -- the rueful recognition that I can't "make" anyone happy. Thinking of all the stories in December about light in dark, fraught journeys, seeds, births, miracles -- all the hope and determination we try to share with each other in lights and decorations and candles. For me, the song is a good companion to the bittersweet, reflective mood I often find myself in in December. Songwriter Info: Patricia is the fourth of five siblings, with eight years from oldest to youngest. Growing up in Boulder, Colorado, and western New York State, a snowy Christmas was virtually guaranteed, and the house was filled with beautiful traditions, from a fat Christmas tree we would go cut at a local farm decorated with white paper doves, tinsel, red balls, and lights, to much gift planning, making & secret, careful wrapping. Christmas cookies left out for Santa, waking up to go to midnight mass, the Westminster Choir College singing Britten's Ceremony of Carols on the turntable, holiday songs on the radio and the whole family watched whatever holiday specials were on tv. A special meal with tablecloth and candles on the table, sledding and snow forts and tunnels, plastic bread bags in the boots and over the mittens to try to keep us warm and dry... my childhood memories are of magical, generous, happy Christmases with music everywhere. ​  Of course, the world appeared more complex and nuanced as I grew, and the loss of loved ones I wanted to celebrate with, ugly commercialism, knowledge of economic disparity and the dark history and abuses of religious belief also became part of December.... and, as a church musician, holiday performance pressure -- the collision of expectations and what actually happens. This song is one of the ways I can be present with the whole catastrophe, as Jon Kabat-Zinn might say. Nuts & Bolts: 6:8, Aeolian, unison with harmonized accompanying line Visit abreathofsong.com for lyrics, more of Patty's artwork, and a way to nominate songs or songwriters for the podcast. Join the A Breath of Song mailing list to receive a heads up as a new episode is released, plus a large version of the artwork, brief thoughts from my slightly peculiar brain... and occasional extras when they seem vitally important! No junk -- I will never sell your address. I read out all your names into my living room when I send new mailings... I appreciate the connection to you who are listening and singing these songs with me. Exchange energy with A Breath of Song with dollars at the Gratitude Jar (whoo-hoo!!!!), or by making comments, leaving reviews, suggesting songs or songwriters (including yourself) ..... your participation matters!

Our guest is Joseph Arndt, who's been the music director at Saint John's Episcopal Church here in Tulsa since 2015. Arndt received his M.M. from The Juilliard School and his B.M. from Westminster Choir College in organ performance. Shortly after arriving in Tulsa, he founded the popular Music at Midday series at Saint John's, which he tells us about. The 7th season of Music at Midday gets underway tomorrow (Wednesday the 22nd, at noon) with a performance by Barron Ryan, the Tulsa-based classical/jazz/crossover pianist. Arndt also tells us about other upcoming Music at Midday engagements, and about additional St. John's concerts that will happen later this year featuring music by Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672), J.S. Bach (1685-1750), and Marcel Dupré (1886-1971). For more information, click the "Music" tab at the church website .

Follow Maren:on Instagram: @supermarenFacebook: https://facebook.com/maren.montalbanoFollow Abby:DLive.tv/burnergrltimeforchange.coachAbigailWright.comSign up for the Bodice Ripper Project newsletter and get exclusive behind-the-scenes content: http://www.bodiceripperproject.com/Purchase Maren's debut book, Pandemic Passion: A COVID-19 novella on KindleTranscript and Show Notes: http://www.bodiceripperproject.com/e032/

Welcome to Season 2 of Ic2us! You're not going to want to miss this! Today's episode features Grammy-nominated conductor James Jordan. Dr. Jordan is recognized and praised throughout the musical world as one of America's pre-eminent conductors, recording artists, writers, music psychologists and innovators in choral music. He was described as a “visionary” by Choral Journal, which cited his book Evoking Sound as a “must read.” His more than 40 books explore both the philosophical and spiritual basis of musicianship, as well as aspects of choral rehearsal teaching and learning, and they are considered to be essential references in the conducting profession. He is professor and senior conductor at Westminster Choir College where he conducts Westminster Schola Cantorum and the critically acclaimed Westminster Williamson Voices. He is also director of the Westminster Conducting Institute and co-director of the Choral Institute at Oxford. (rider.edu/Oxford) He is artistic director and conductor of the professional choral ensemble, The Same Stream (thesamestreamchoir.com) Find Ic2us online at www.ic2uspodcast.com Ic2us is a proud member of the Music teacher Development Podcast Network! Find more information at www.mutedpodcasts.com. Ic2us is your source for any and everything conducting, listening, teaching, and music making. Treat yourself to a dose of musical inspiration as we pick the minds of great conductors and delve into note worthy repertoire. If you're a musician, teacher, or conductor: you've found your people.

In this 15th episode of "Meet the Musicians", guest host Helen Kernizan (Rise Up Chorus's Youth Chorus Director) interviews Brittney Boykin. Composer and Concert Pianist Brittney Boykin (B.E. Boykin) is a native of Alexandria, Virginia. After graduating from Spelman College in 2011 with a B.A. in Music, Ms. Boykin continued her studies at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey. She continued to compose music during her time at Westminster and was awarded the R & R Young Composition Prize just a few months shy of graduating. In May of 2013, Ms. Boykin graduated from Westminster Choir College with a M.M. in Sacred Music with a concentration in choral studies. Among her professional endeavors, Ms. Boykin has also been featured as the conductor/composer-in-residence for the 2017 Harry T. Burleigh Commemorative Spiritual Festival at Tennessee State University. Ms. Boykin’s instrumental and choral works are currently being published and distributed through her own publishing company, Klavia Press. She is currently pursuing a PhD with an emphasis in Music Education from Georgia State University. "Meet the Musicians" Podcast is produced by Rise Up Chorus, a community chorus organization whose mission is to bring the community together and enrich lives through musical experiences. For more information about Rise Up Chorus, visit us online at www.riseupchorus.org.

Paul Casey: So a goal is like pulling the rope when you cannot clearly see what is on the other end. You know the treasure is there, but you can only see a shadowy outline. With each pole, the treasure becomes more and more clear until there it is right in front of you. Speaker 2: Raising the water level of leadership in the Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington, it's the Tri-Cities Influencer Podcast. Welcome to the TCI Podcast where local leadership and self-leadership expert Paul Casey interviews local CEOs, entrepreneurs, and non-profit executives to hear how they lead themselves and their teams, so we can all benefit from their wisdom and experience. Here's your host, Paul Casey of Growing Forward Service, coaching and equipping individuals and teams to spark breakthrough success. Paul Casey: It's a great day to grow forward. Thanks for joining me for today's episode with Justin Raffa. He is the artistic director of the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers. And a fun fact about Justin he said his little whistling thing, Justin talk about that. Justin Raffa: It might be easier if I just do a little demonstration Paul. Should we just- Paul Casey: Please do. Justin Raffa: ... and then I'll explain later? Paul Casey: Okay. Justin Raffa: [inaudible 00:01:16] So there's a little taste of this annoying whistling approach that I learned as a kid. I use my teeth and I look really goofy if you were just watching me. [inaudible 00:01:35] this funny embouchure but I can do things like that. That's the piccolo solo from Stars and Stripes Forever- Paul Casey: Yes, it is. Justin Raffa: ... and I've learned how to do the little trills and yeah. Paul Casey: Yes, and it was funny because we laughed about this because I used to have a gap or a chip tooth right in the front for like 20 years. And I was able to also whistle through that gap, so that's pretty funny. Well, we're going to dive in after checking with our Tri-City Influencer sponsor. Paul Casey: It's easy to delay answering uncomfortable questions like, "What happens to my assets and my loved ones when I die?" So it's no surprise that nearly 50% of Americans don't have a will, and even fewer have an estate plan. Many disabled clients worry that they don't have enough assets to set up an estate plan. But there are important options available to ensure that you have a voice in your medical and financial decision-making, even if your health takes a turn for the worst. Estate planning gives you a voice when your health deteriorates or after you're gone. Marin Miller Bam, attorney at law, is currently providing free consultations. To find out more about estate planning or to book an appointment, call Marin at (206) 485-4066 or visit Salus that's S-A-L-U-S -law.com today. Paul Casey: Thank you for your support of leadership development in the Tri-Cities. Well, welcome, Justin. I was privileged to meet you many years ago when I was working at a church and you came alongside the music director there and was helping with oratorios and then the Messiah, and it's like, "There's this young guy coming in here with all this musical talent." I remember that. And then through leadership at Tri-Cities, we've had a chance to work together, volunteer together through that to promote leadership development in the Tri-City. So, great that I get to interview today. Justin Raffa: Thank you so much for this opportunity, Paul. I'm a big fan of the work that you do on this leadership front for our community. I've had the pleasure of working with you as a facilitator with one of my groups. And I don't know that I'm a Tri-City influencer. My friends like to call me a pusher and an instigator. They use those terms a lot, but I'm delighted to have a chance to talk with you today. Thank you for the invitation. Paul Casey: We could change this podcast because it's still an eye, Tri-Cities Instigator, right? I think that would be really creative. Well, help our Tri-City Influencers get to know you. Take us through a couple of your career highlights that led you to where you are now. Justin Raffa: I'm a South Jersey native. I grew up outside of Philadelphia in the part of New Jersey where it gets its nickname, the Garden State. I was heavily involved in music for years. I loved singing in church choirs as a kid, and then in all of my different levels of school, I was always involved in music. And it was about my junior year of high school where I thought, "Maybe I could do this for a living." And my high school choir director, who was my favorite teacher of my favorite class, gave me an opportunity that year. And she asked me, "Hey, would you like to teach the class? Would you like to run a couple of rehearsals on this piece and conduct it in the concert?" And I couldn't believe that she would give me that opportunity as a student. She sat in the back of the room and I was down there running the show and I really got hooked. So I'm grateful for those opportunities that I had in high school. Justin Raffa: I went off to my undergraduate degree. I had a lot of opportunities to intern with volunteer community choirs, learning more about the nonprofit side of my industry, which is my bread and butter now, which is what I love the most. Being an intern for a variety of choirs in the Princeton area in Central Jersey, I went to Westminster Choir College in Princeton, not part of Princeton University, but the university was just a 10-minute walk from my campus, so I did spend a lot of time there. But I just took every opportunity I could, which a lot of performing artists do early in the career. You never say no. Whatever chance you have to get in front of people to get on the podium conducting a group, I just ate up, eat, slept and breathed music for so long. Justin Raffa: My first teaching job was in Bisbee, Arizona, a little town on the border of Mexico. It was 2,500 miles away from everyone and everything I ever knew. I'm an only child, so when I finished my undergrad, I was just ready to get out of Jersey, to get out of the east coast. I was just ready for an adventure. And as a young teacher, you want to go out there and change the world. So I thought, "Let's take this job." Justin Raffa: I didn't speak a lick of Spanish. Most of my students there were bilingual. I am as pasty gringo complexion, I had to stay calm. My father's family is Sicilian and my mother's kind of generic UK, but I had a really wonderful time. I was 22 years old and I was out there by myself and had a chance to run the choir and drama departments of the Bisbee High School. And I was also quickly promoted as the lead conductor, the artistic director of the Bisbee community course. So here I am now 22 also in front of adults and getting to pick music and program concerts and things that if I had stayed on the east coast, I probably would have still had to be the intern for the another decade of my life. Justin Raffa: It's just very saturated. My industry back on the east coast, there's a lot of us looking for work, so at the border of Mexico, I had a lot of opportunities and I'm grateful for that. I got to test things out. I made a lot of mistakes in my first couple of years of teaching and working with adult choirs. I also was on the city of Bisbee's Arts Commission, which is where I first stepped into the government sector of advocating for arts. Justin Raffa: I did my master's degree a couple of years after, 27 years old, I needed a job, and I found this interesting little community called the Tri-Cities in Washington State. I'd never spent any time in the Pacific Northwest. I was interested. I was ready to move to another corner of the country ready for that next adventure. I came up for an interview, they liked me, I liked them, and 13 years later, here I am. Justin Raffa: And again, I was 27 years old when Mid-Columbia Mastersingers hired me to be its lead conductor, the artistic director. That's a big responsibility for someone that's still fairly early in their career. The board took a chance on me and I'm grateful for that. And that original team and I worked very close together to really build and start to rebrand the organization. Paul Casey: Yeah, it sounds like say yes to opportunities, I heard in that story. I heard about mentorship in that story. I heard take a chance on somebody that's showing promise, so a lot of good leadership lessons. Justin Raffa: But the salary that the Mastersingers offered me that first year, by the way, which I am happy to share. I don't mind talking about money. I know some people get weird about money. It was basically a $4,000 stipend for the year. And my parents back in Jersey were like, "You're doing what?" Paul Casey: For the year. Justin Raffa: "You're doing what? You're moving to another corner of the country to take on a job that pays you four grands." I was like, "Mom, dad, you got to start somewhere in this industry. It's a small-sized nonprofit performing arts organization. I think I can invest in this and build it, and it's going to give me the opportunities that I want to work in my field." Justin Raffa: I'm glad that we've been able to build the organization and my salary along with it in these past 13 years. But yeah, taking chances and recognizing that, for a lot of us who are artists money is definitely secondary. And we hope that it comes, but it takes a lot of time to build up your experience where you're at a level where you're being compensated for what you think you're worth. But I was happy to do it when I was 27, or I actually I would do it again now. Paul Casey: Well, that's a real love for it. So being in your strength zone can multiply your influence, so how do you add the most value to your organization? Justin Raffa: I have talked a lot over the years about getting the right people on the bus. Paul Casey: Yes, the bus. Justin Raffa: And for me, when the Mastersingers hired me, the organization was a 30ish thousand-dollar annual budget, pretty small, seven or eight members of the board of directors, most of which were singers or singer spouses. So very much the early stages of what nonprofits look like. So I was very intentional and strategic from day one about who do we want on the board? What other staff positions do we want to create? And who are the best people to fill those jobs? Justin Raffa: The board and I, we are very protective of who we bring into that inner circle, because we know that one bad apple can really- Paul Casey: So true. Justin Raffa: ... poison the water. So we've been very diligent about who we invite to come on our board. And as we've grown staff positions, I am fastidious about who we're hiring. I'm on all the selection panels. And that's part of my role as artistic director, when we're bringing additional artistic roles, just, you got to get the right people on the bus. Justin Raffa: And in choir, it's all about team. I could be the greatest, most intelligent musical mind that this country has ever seen, but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter because the work I do is so contingent on groups of people. So yeah, getting the right people on the bus I think has been a really important step for me in growing my organization. Paul Casey: And then on the flip side, you have to be self-aware of your weaknesses. So is there a favorite way you sabotage yourself? Justin Raffa: Yeah, and I've just recently started addressing this. But when you work for a nonprofit organization, when you work for a nonprofit arts organization in communities like Tri-Cities, sometimes it's hard to set work boundaries. We do have a physical office space, but I do not have set office hours. I do not have a nine-to-five job where I need to report to this physical location. Justin Raffa: I can go into the office, but mostly my colleague, Wendy, who is our managing director, she's the front face of the office, so I almost never go in. Which means that at times I find myself answering emails on Friday night at 11 o'clock at night. Because I feel that there's this urgency to get it done. And not having those clear boundaries about showing up to a physical space to work and following a 40-hour work week nine to five, working in the nonprofit sector can be really consuming. And you feel like you're just on, 365 days a year you're just on call 24/7. And so I've had to be really intentional about balancing my time and setting up those limits and said, "I'm not going to answer emails after nine o'clock at night. Let's try that." Paul Casey: Right. Justin Raffa: And it's hard because things might come in and I see it, especially now that we all have phones where we get little dings when anything else comes like, "Oh, it'll just take me a second to answer." No, it can wait. Or, "It's the weekend, I'll get it on Monday morning." So it's been really hard for me because I love my work so much. And I often do have the time. I could take a couple minutes right now and answer that despite the fact that it's 11 o'clock at night. Justin Raffa: So just having to solidify those boundaries and those time restraints so that I don't feel that I'm constantly living my job. Paul Casey: Yeah, and that is hard when you love your job. I totally can relate to that as well, but it will drain you. And it also sets an expectation sometimes of the recipient of the email that, "Oh, I got to respond at 10 o'clock or 11 o'clock as well." Justin Raffa: Right. I don't want to condition people to think that, "Oh, well, Justin's going to answer my email within 30 minutes because he always does." That also sets up unhealthy habits. Paul Casey: It does. Justin Raffa: And end up, because you could see what time this email was sent, what time the response was sent, all of that is tracked. And I'm trying to help my staff colleagues as well. We've all been culprits of this. Like, "Folks, let's just take it easy. This is not so urgent. If something's urgent, pick up the phone and call me. But have a nice weekend, see you Monday morning." Paul Casey: Good stuff. Well, rarely, by the way, only children unite just saying that if any of those- Justin Raffa: Yeah, it's a thing. Paul Casey: ... actually influencers out there that are only children will have to start a meetup. But rarely do we achieve our highest potential by ourselves. And you said, it's all about the team in choir. Who keeps you accountable? Who keeps you energized to getting your goals accomplished? Justin Raffa: It's pretty easy for me as a conductor because it's my singers. Paul Casey: Yeah. Justin Raffa: It is the wonderful array of volunteer people that I serve in this community who look to me weekly in rehearsals or when we're doing events. Being a choir director is a very authoritarian job in many ways, it's not a democratic institution. The conductor is front and center, usually elevated standing on a podium, and is calling the shots, is dictating, "This is what we're going to do, and this is when we're going to do it, and this is how we're going to do it." Justin Raffa: So I answer to my singers. I am responsible to them. I am inspired by them. And as I mentioned a moment ago, I could be the most skilled, experienced conductor, but if my singers aren't having a good experience, if they're not happy with the nature of rehearsals or how the organization is operating under my leadership, they're all volunteers, and they don't have to show up next week. And I'm nobody without a choir. Justin Raffa: Standing up there by myself, waving my arms, it doesn't matter, right? Everything I do is based on my singers. And since we are a volunteer co-organization, that all of our singers are volunteers, most of them do not have professional musical backgrounds. They have other day jobs, and callings, and spouses, and partners, and children, and things that take their time. So they need their time to be well-spent when they are assembled with me for rehearsals and performances, or they can just opt out. Justin Raffa: And all of the professional development that I do to stay up to date on what are the newest cutting edge trends in choral music, all the professional development workshops and things I attend, is so that I can be of better service to my singers. Keep them connected, keep them engaged, keep them excited, and keep them coming back. Paul Casey: I love that, because they could vote with their feet. Justin Raffa: Absolutely. Paul Casey: Do you also have a formal feedback mechanism or are they just free to give you feedback at any time? Justin Raffa: We typically have a series of surveys that we'll share with them. And we survey a lot of our stakeholders, so following a performance, we survey our audience. Recently in this era of COVID, we've done a number of surveys with our singers to gauge initially, what do you want to do and what do you not want to do since we can't be assembled, since we can't be together in person singing? Because the staff and I didn't want to just arbitrarily create all these online offerings, whereas the majority of our singers would go, "Nah, I'm not digging that. I don't want to do that." Paul Casey: Yeah. Justin Raffa: So just trying to gauge their interests. And now, as we see a lot of businesses and industries that are transitioning back to hybrid services and in-person services, asking the singers, "Do you want to do this? Are you ready to be back together? What's the timeline? How eager?" Or, "What are the conditions that you want to see met before you would be comfortable resuming in-person rehearsals?" So that I would like to think that we've created a lot of opportunities for singers to give them feedback. Justin Raffa: Many of them have become good personal friends, they're in my social circle, so I would also hope that they would feel comfortable approaching me if there was an issue that needed to be addressed. But we also have a number of other staff and obviously a board of directors who are my bosses. If there was an issue, they are points of contact for singers to give that feedback, if they're not comfortable talking with me. Paul Casey: Yeah, you mentioned it's slow now of course, during COVID, and I feel for you because it's your passion and you can't assemble to produce these works of art. But when, before COVID, and hopefully very soon, replenishment of energy is a big deal, because you said you could be on all the time because you love what you do. So what do you do to manage stress other than the boundaries that you mentioned earlier trying to put a cap on replying to email? Justin Raffa: Paul, I am a massage junkie. Paul Casey: Are you? Justin Raffa: I try to go every two weeks if I can, if my budget allows it. Paul Casey: Nice. Justin Raffa: I also, a couple of years ago, started receiving acupuncture treatments, which I think are very complimentary, the yin to the yang of massage. If massage is the macro, acupuncture is the micro treatments. So that self-care is very important to me. I have a hot tub on my back patio that I use very frequently. Paul Casey: Oh, yeah. Justin Raffa: And it's funny because in this era of COVID, my industry was among the first to officially shut down because the nature of performing arts. We're all about big groups of people being together in the same physical space and usually in very close proximity. That's what choir is. Choir singers, we stand shoulder to shoulder often. Paul Casey: Yeah. Justin Raffa: So I have taken advantage of all of this free time I've had to really reflect on my health and stress management, because I historically have done a terrible job at it. I will just work myself to death. So I calmed myself into a daily exercise routine. I get out of the house every day. I think it's important to be outdoors, get some sunshine. I take a 30ish-minute walk. I'm very privileged, I live in Richland, close to the River Walk, so I have a built-in walk that's right out my back door. Paul Casey: Nice. Justin Raffa: And then I started a 30-minute exercise routine. I rotate arms day, legs day, core day. And if you had said to me over a year ago that this would be my future, I would say, "No way. I hate working out. I hate exercise. I'm not a gym guy." But so many of my doctors and my healthcare team, people that care about me have said, "Justin, as you approach 40, you need to take care of yourself and build muscle mass." Justin Raffa: I'm a pretty flexible person. My massage therapists have always told me that, but you need core muscles to be strong, so I don't turn into a shriveled hunchback of an old man when I'm 50. Paul Casey: Right. Justin Raffa: So I think devoting the time to take care of your physical wellbeing is something that I'd never prioritize, but that I've been able to do. I've seen a lot of benefits from that. And I've also recently been working on learning mindful meditation, something I'm interested in, but since I've had so much time by myself that I can really focus in on it. Paul Casey: Well, Tri-City influencers, a lot to put on your wellness self-care checklist that Justin just ran through. So hopefully you got some great ideas to make sure you've got in your own replenishment plan. Well, before we head to our next question on people development, a shout out to our sponsor. Paul Casey: Located in the Parkway, you'll find motivation new friends and your new coworking space at FUSE. Whether you're a student just starting out or a seasoned professional, come discover all the reasons to love coworking at FUSE. Come co-work at FUSE for free on Fridays in February. Enjoy free coffee or tea, Wi-Fi, printing, conference rooms, and more, and bring a friend. FUSE is where individuals and small teams come together in a thoughtfully designed resource-rich environment to get work done and grow their ideas. Comprised of professionals from varying disciplines and backgrounds, FUSE is built for hardworking, fun loving humans. Learn more about us at fusespc.com or stop by 723, the Parkway in Richland, Washington. Paul Casey: Justin, people development, that's what you do, it's crucial for leadership, and if you could clone the ideal person for your organization, what are you looking for? What traits would they have? Justin Raffa: Artists, and I'd say teachers and conductors in general, we are so focused on product versus process. We're working towards a performance and perfecting that performance. So we tend to put a lot of value on skill sets, on people's training. But at the end of the day, what I have discovered is, I could bring in the most talented and experienced artistic team, but if they're jerks, if they're not pleasant to work with, if they aren't good team players, the whole process is miserable. And then you could have the most beautiful high-quality aesthetic product, but it's not worth it to me anymore. Justin Raffa: So early in my career, I really looked up to these pillars. I idolized a lot of celebrities in my industry who I discovered are really nasty people. So I want to clone people who are flexible, who are pleasant to work with, that I'm going to look forward to going into the weekly staff meeting with them, and not dreading, "Oh gosh, I hope Paul doesn't go off the handle again because we didn't have enough green M&M's in his dressing room." Because a lot of that happens, a lot of artists who have wild expectations, and are very needy, and very demanding, and I don't want to play with those people. Justin Raffa: I would rather have a less-quality product, but that I have really enjoyed the process of getting there, working with people that bring me joy, that I really value the time that I spent, because we do. We spend so much time together as ensemble artists building a product. So I want to clone a team of, I don't know what that physically looks like, but flexible and reliable, that they're going to get the job done and not just do lip service. And for me as a leader, I want to a team of folks that I know if I'm going to divvy out these responsibilities, which has also been hard for me, sometimes it's like, "Well, I'll do it. I'll take care of it myself," if I divvy that out, I trust that the team is going to deliver. Paul Casey: Which is crucial for delegation, crucial for that. Yeah, and I also agree that we want to hire people, in whatever leadership position you're in, that you look forward to being with. That we don't think about going to a meeting with them and it's like, "Oh, I've got to go to a meeting with so-and-so." I heard it said that you want to hire people that you would choose to go to dinner with. That's one of the filters to look through and so, I love that. Paul Casey: Well, you have to think of your organization as the head of a nonprofit, you've got to look further out, long-term, you've got to look at the big picture, how do you do that, Justin? Justin Raffa: I have also historically been terrible at this, because I've often said, "I live in the present moment, and I'm just paying attention to what's in front of me." And as I approach turning 40 and coming into formal middle age I suppose, I feel like it's a big shift for me. Paul Casey: Yes. Justin Raffa: A lot of this, I think just comes with age that we become more experienced and it forces us to think ahead about what's next. When I was in my 20s, it didn't matter. I got a job for $4,000 a year. I'm not thinking about retirement or savings, it's like, "I'll spend it when I got it and have fun and I'll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow." But as I've worked in particular with the Mastersingers, if we have big goals, if we have big dreams about what we want our organizations to accomplish, if I don't want to keep working for the same 30ish thousand-dollar annual budget organization, we have to plan ahead. We have to set those goals because it does take a long time to get there. Justin Raffa: The choir's budget is now, just over $250,000 a year. And I'm so proud that we have built that here in the Tri-Cities. It can be done, a performing arts organization that thrived. At a time when, I was hired in the summer of 2008 in the midst of the big economic downturn that the country was facing where so many performing arts organizations were closing up shop, going bankrupt. You've got to set goals if you want to actually grow, and set your sights big, because I am. I want a big, bigger, better, bolder community. I want a bigger, better, bolder organization. And it's not something that I can do today or tomorrow, it takes the time to invest. Work with the team, set those big visions, because it's going to take a lot of time to get there, but you will, if you invest the time. Paul Casey: Well, congratulations for what has been built through you with the team, because that is phenomenal. Justin Raffa: Thank you. I'm proud of the role I've played, but it's because of the team. We got the right people on the bus when we need them. Paul Casey: That's right. And to use your macro/micro wording from earlier. So macro vision, the big goals, wanting to make this even more phenomenal than it is. What are the small acts of leadership in your role as artistic director? How do you make a positive difference in each one of your volunteers? Justin Raffa: When you and I went through LTC, we learned about five leadership traits in a particular system. And one that I had never really considered, because it's not important to me as an individual, is called encourage the heart. Paul Casey: Yep. Justin Raffa: And I think that conductors, classical music conductors are also notoriously terrible at this. We are trained to be pragmatic. We are fixing problems. And when something is correct, we just check it off the list and we move on. It's like, "What else needs to be fixed? Where else are the problems?" So I was so appreciative of my time in LTC that one of my biggest takeaways was stop and celebrate successes. And not just the big ones, once a year at the annual meeting, celebrate the little things, thank people, thank them more often than you think. Justin Raffa: And again, it's because I find that myself as an individual, that's not so important to me. I don't need a lot of lauds and thanks. I often say, "It's my job, I'm doing my job." But not everyone is like me. And of the diverse team and volunteers that I serve, it goes a long way in a rehearsal to stop and say, "Altos, that was really beautiful, thank you for that." And they look at me like, "Oh, my gosh." Because they're waiting for, "Altos, you're still singing the wrong note and I just don't know why." So this idea of encourage the heart, celebrate successes not just the big ones, and thank people often. Paul Casey: Thank people more than you think, I like that. Well, if one of our Tri-City influencer listeners asked you what are some leadership resources they must go to, it could be books, it could be podcasts, it could be other ways to grow their leadership skills, where would you point them? Justin Raffa: I used to be such an avid reader for pleasure, but now as a conductor, most of my "reading time" is spent studying music scores. But there are a couple of resources that I've enjoyed over the years as a leader. One of which I just mentioned, the leadership challenge, I believe is the formal concept that you and I studied in Leadership Tri-Cities and there's a book that came out with that. I very much enjoyed that book. It really changed my perspective on identifying those five key roles because two of them were very obvious to me. It's like, "I know I already do this pretty well, but the other three it's like, oh, I never really thought of that." So I certainly encourage people to read that. Justin Raffa: And the rest of my response, probably I would take this in a different direction than some of your other guests say, I think it's important for us here as leaders in the Tri-Cities to read the Tri-City Herald. I am a subscriber online, but we need to know what's happening in our community locally. And despite all the changes that the Herald has had in terms of staffing or the parent company that's in charge, they remain the best authority of local news. And I think it's important for us to know what's happening in our community on all these various fronts of business sectors and politics, because ultimately it is going to affect me and my organization. Justin Raffa: I think good leaders need to be aware of the big picture of what's happening in their community. Not just that I know all the latest arts and culture news, but that I'm aware of what's happening at PNNL and Hanford and on the tourism front, all those things come together. And support your local paper, right? We need good media. So be a subscriber to the Herald. It is a great resource. Justin Raffa: And then out for my daily walks, I usually listen to the New York Times, puts out a podcast called The Daily. It's about 30ish minutes, so it is the length of my walk. And that is focusing on different national issues, little 30ish-minute clips of what's going on nationally or even internationally what's happening in the world. And I have a lot of respect for The New York Times. I think it's a great publication. It's got a good team of people that are doing that investigative journalism that is not always guaranteed with a lot of our news and media sources these days. Justin Raffa: So those are things that I consume on a daily basis, in addition to reading lots of meeting minutes of city councils and other jurisdiction meetings, I try to keep myself up to speed on what local governments are doing. And since I can't attend every single meeting of every jurisdiction, I go back and read a lot of meeting minutes, which can be a little stale, but again, good to know what's going on? And what are our local elected officials? What are the decisions that they've been making for our community? Paul Casey: Great to stay aware. Good reminder. Well, finally, Justin, what advice would you give to new leaders or anyone who wants to keep growing and gaining more influence? Justin Raffa: Be present in the community, get out there and be visible, meet people. I continue to spend a lot of my work putting in time, getting out of the choir rehearsal, going to networking events and the chamber of commerce luncheons, any kind of communal gathering. I think it's important that I'm advocating for my organization, that I let people know that we exist. Justin Raffa: That was one of the biggest challenges when I moved here in the summer of 2008, as I was house hunting and people would say, "What brings you to Tri-Cities, you work in a Patel?" "No." "Are you hired by one of the Hanford contractors?" "No. I am the new artistic director of adult community choir called Mid-Columbia Mastersingers." And inevitably people said, "Who? Never heard of them." So I've had to build the profile of my organization. And a lot of that is just being present, getting out there. Justin Raffa: And getting out outside of your industry. We tend to cluster with people we know. All the arts and culture folks in town are good friends, they're in my social circle, I meet them at local watering holes, but sometimes we just become too insulated, right? All the doctors hang out with the doctors and all the lawyers hang out with the lawyers. We need to intersect those paths. Leadership Tri-Cities was a big help for me on that front. Some of my closest friends in my class were the most different from me and worked in sectors that are farthest removed from what I do as a musician. Justin Raffa: So get out there and meet people, meet people outside of your industry, and build your reputation that people know you to be a kind, compassionate and reliable person. Not just that, "Oh yeah, Justin is the quiet guy." Everybody knows that. They know I'm a music person, but I also hope that they know me to be kind and caring and reliable, that if I'm involved in a project or I've joined a board that I will deliver, I will show up when I'm given a task, I have a reputation for seeing it through. Build that community profile that people just don't think of you as, "Oh yeah, well, he's the CEO of this company." What beyond our titles do people know you for? I think that's so important, building those relationships, positive relationships with people. Paul Casey: Great reminders, to weave yourself into the fabric of your community and be that go-to dependable person. Well, Justin, how can our listeners best connect with you? Justin Raffa: Well, Paul as you and many know I did throw my hat in a political arena this past year. Paul Casey: Yes. Justin Raffa: I stood as a candidate for local office. If people are interested in engaging on those issues and just a lot of local community awareness, I do maintain a Facebook page called Elect Justin Raffa. I am not running for anything, I have not made any declarations, but I wanted to keep that page alive to just continue to talk about local community issues that I think are important. I also have a Twitter presence as well. You can follow me there, electjustinraffa. You can email me directly, it's info@justinraffa.com. My first and last name, R-A-F-F, as in Frank, A, is how I heard my mother pronounce my name for years over the phone, because inevitably the letter F might sound like a letter S. Paul Casey: And Justin, you probably also would love them to support the arts fundraisers in town as well, right? Justin Raffa: Yeah. In fact Mid-Columbia Arts Fundraiser is the name of an organization that supports not just my own, but some of our partners Mid-Columbia Ballet, Mid-Columbia Musical Theater, Mid-Columbia Symphony. There is such great art being made here in the Tri-City. Sometimes we're not so visible because we don't have a brick and mortar. We haven't built that performing arts center just yet. Maybe we'll talk about that next time. That's the long-term goal of mine that I will see through before I leave this community. We are going to get it done. Paul Casey: Yes, keep being a champion. Well, thanks for all you do to make the Tri-Cities a great place and keep leading well. Let me wrap up our podcast today with a leadership resource to recommend. He was one of the stalwarts in the personal development world, passed away several years ago, a guy by the name of Jim Rohm, jimrohn.com, J-I-M-R-O-H-N.com, and he lives on through his blog through The Success Academy, their resources, a team that just wants to keep getting his stuff out there. He was one of the personal development gurus of the 20th century. Stuff on goal setting, communication and leadership, all of my passions, you might want to hit up jimrohn.com to learn more. Paul Casey: Again, this is Paul Casey. I want to thank my guest, Justin Raffa from the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers for being here today on the Tri-Cities Influencer Podcast. And we want to thank our TCI sponsor and invite you to support them. We appreciate you making this possible so we can collaborate to inspire leaders in our community. Paul Casey: Finally, one more, a leadership tidbit for the road to help you make a difference in your circle of influence. Zig Ziglar said, "Outstanding people have one thing in common, an absolute sense of mission." And so next time KGF, keep growing forward. Speaker 2: Thank you to our listeners for tuning in to today's show. Paul Casey is on a mission to add value to leaders by providing practical tools and strategies that reduce stress in their lives and on their teams, so that they can enjoy life and leadership and experience their key desired results. If you'd like more help from Paul in your leadership development, connect with him at growingforward@paulcasey.org, for a consultation that can help you move past your current challenges and create a strategy for growing your life or your team forward. Speaker 2: Paul would also like to help you restore your sanity to your crazy schedule and getting your priorities done every day by offering you his free Control My Calendar Checklist, go to www.takebackmycalendar.com for that productivity tool, or open a text message 72000 and type the word 'growing'. Paul Casey: Tri-Cities Influencer podcast was recorded at Fuse SPC by Bill Wagner of Safe Strategies.

In this eleventh episode of "Meet the Musicians" Podcast, host Matthew LaPine has an energetic conversation with musician, Markos Kandilis. Markos is a multi-faceted performer, native Jersey Boy, and proud Greek-Italian American. The endless support of his family and community led him to an early entrance into the world of professional performance as a chorus member of the Metropolitan Opera House of New York City at the age of ten.His love and skill in performing were developed by participating in every choir, play, and musical available to him throughout his time in high school and at Westminster Choir College. He earned numerous accolades and leading roles, catching the attention of Royal Caribbean Productions who cast him as a Featured Soloist, Vocal Captain, and Headliner for their renowned fleet of shows.After seven years of performing at sea, Markos returned ashore to progress his career and life on land. He regularly trains with experts in the realms of voice, acting, and movement to sharpen his skills and enhance his performances in the booth and on the stage.You can learn more about Markos or collaborate with him through his website, markoskandilis.com."Meet the Musicians" Podcast is produced by Rise Up Chorus, a community chorus organization whose mission is to bring the community together and enrich lives through musical experiences. For more information about Rise Up Chorus, visit us online at www.riseupchorus.org.

In this tenth episode of "Meet the Musicians" Podcast, our host Matthew LaPine again welcomes our guest host, Helen Kernizan, who continues our series of conversations discussing the issues of race with professional, classical musicians and music educators of color. Helen is Rise Up Chorus’s Youth Chorus Director, and she teaches music at the Township of Ocean Intermediate School in Ocean Township, NJ.Born in Southern California and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, Carrie Compere attended Trenton public schools and graduated from Trenton Central High School. She briefly attended Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, NJ.She began acting professionally in 2010 and has both stage and TV/Film experience. A few productions include:Broadway:The Color PurpleHoller If Ya Hear MeOff-Broadway:DaddySistas the Musical.1st National Tour:The Color PurpleShrek the MusicalFilm/TV“Many Saints of Newark” (2020)“Dead Men Tell No Lies” (2020)“The Crew” (Netflix)“City On A Hill” (Showtime)“Manifest” (NBC)“New Amsterdam” (NBC)“Seven Seconds” (Netflix)“NYC 22” (CBS)“Show Boat: Live at Lincoln Center” (PBS)Carrie is a wife of 22 years to her husband, Jerry, and a mother of their two children, Isaiah and Pneuma. Carrie continues to work as an actor but her most important job and commitment remains that of a wife and mother.Meet the Musicians" Podcast is produced by Rise Up Chorus, a community chorus organization whose mission is to bring the community together and enrich lives through musical experiences. For more information about Rise Up Chorus, visit us online at www.riseupchorus.org.

The 2021 GRAMMY Awards are this weekend, and, for the first time, a Westminster grad participated in each of the five recordings nominated in the Best Choral Performance category. We recently spoke with five of the artists in that category about the nominated recordings.

In this episode I chat with Meghan Kennedy about using picture books in the music classroom. Meghan Kennedy is in her fourth year of teaching elementary school music. She has taught elementary general music (K-5) and chorus (3-5) for the past 3 years in Georgia. Before moving to Georgia, she taught elementary general music and band in New Jersey where she grew up and began her music journey with the flute in the third grade. Meghan attended the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College for her Bachelors in Music Education. While in college, Meghan spent her summers earning her Level I, II and III Kodaly Certification from Westminster Choir College. Through these experiences Meghan discovered that her passion for teaching lies in Elementary Music, which is where she feels she can be the most creative with her students. This passion for elementary music education mixed with her joy in connecting with other educators led Meghan to create her music teacher instagram a few years ago. You can follow along with Meghan @musicmrsk where she shares daily life as a music teacher, lesson ideas, materials and book recommendations (these are shared weekly in a series called "Music Book Monday"). She has also shared a series of rhythm call and response and play along videos on her YouTube channel MusicMrsK, which was created as part of an effort to create more free online resources for music educators in Spring 2020. In conjunction with her social media presence, Meghan loves working on her TeachersPayTeachers store in her free time, Music Mrs K. Her store features elementary general music curriculum, lesson plans, and both digital and printable lesson materials. Meghan loves connecting with other music educators online as Music Mrs.K! Links and Resources: Save 15% on used books with Thriftbooks Follow Meghan on Instagram Follow Meghan on Youtube Music Mrs. K TPT

In this episode I chat with Meghan Kennedy about using picture books in the music classroom. Meghan Kennedy is in her fourth year of teaching elementary school music. She has taught elementary general music (K-5) and chorus (3-5) for the past 3 years in Georgia. Before moving to Georgia, she taught elementary general music and band in New Jersey where she grew up and began her music journey with the flute in the third grade. Meghan attended the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College for her Bachelors in Music Education. While in college, Meghan spent her summers earning her Level I, II and III Kodaly Certification from Westminster Choir College. Through these experiences Meghan discovered that her passion for teaching lies in Elementary Music, which is where she feels she can be the most creative with her students. This passion for elementary music education mixed with her joy in connecting with other educators led Meghan to create her music teacher instagram a few years ago. You can follow along with Meghan @musicmrsk where she shares daily life as a music teacher, lesson ideas, materials and book recommendations (these are shared weekly in a series called "Music Book Monday"). She has also shared a series of rhythm call and response and play along videos on her YouTube channel MusicMrsK, which was created as part of an effort to create more free online resources for music educators in Spring 2020. In conjunction with her social media presence, Meghan loves working on her TeachersPayTeachers store in her free time, Music Mrs K. Her store features elementary general music curriculum, lesson plans, and both digital and printable lesson materials. Meghan loves connecting with other music educators online as Music Mrs.K! Links and Resources: Save 15% on used books with Thriftbooks Follow Meghan on Instagram Follow Meghan on Youtube Music Mrs. K TPT --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thatmusicpodcast/support

Dr. Steve Pilkington began his service at Christ Church in 1994. He oversees all the music ministries at Christ Church, as well as serves on the faculty of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ where he serves as Associate Professor of Sacred Music. A graduate of St. Olaf College and the University of Illinois, Steve earned a Ph.D. in Liturgics from Drew University.

Today's guest is Anwar Sawyer. He started as (and still is) a songwriter and producer. He's based in New York and is a classically trained pianist. He studied classical piano and composition at Westminster Choir College and New York Institute of Technology. He's signed to Roc Nation Publishing and has now started a management company, SMG Entertainment, where his breakout artist is Audrey Nuna. She's currently signed to Sony Arista Records.Anwar and I talk about being a producer/songwriter and writing thousands of songs and even how he got his publishing deal. We also talk about developing this young artist and what the process is behind that. She has millions and millions of streams and has collaborated with DJ Snake and Jack Harlow. And by the time you're listening to this episode, she might be taking over the world because she's a pop star on the rise. This was a live podcast in front of Ari's Take Academy students. They were able to ask questions at the end. We included a few of their questions at the end, and I know you're not going to want to miss them.If you want to check out Ari's Take Academy head over to the website: https://www.aristakeacademy.com/--Quick links:3:35 - About Anwar Sawyer8:35 - How Anwar landed his Roc Nation Publishing deal17:44 - What's it like being a songwriter/producer signed to a publishing deal?19:25 - How Anwar and Audrey Nuna started working together24:00 - How do you promote an artist with 0 fans? What's the release strategy look like?28:33 - Once Audrey's following and stream counts begin growing, what were your next steps?33:18 - When "Soufflé" was released, where was Audrey Nuna at in her career? What were her numbers like?35:22 - A simple compliment can be your 'in' with a music professional41:42 - What made Anwar and Audrey Nuna sign with Sony Arista Records over other labels? 45:53 - Ari's Take Academy student questions52:31 - What it means to Anwar Sawyer to 'make it' in the New Music Business--Connect with Ari’s Take:Website: https://aristake.comAcademy: https://aristakeacademy.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArisTakeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aristake/Connect with Ari Herstand:Website: https://ariherstand.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstandTwitter: https://twitter.com/ariherstandYouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstandFacebook: https://facebook.com/ariherstandConnect with Anwar Sawyer:Website: https://www.smgent.com/Instagram:

In this episode of the Meet the Musicians Podcast, host Matthew LaPine interviews special guest, Dr. Gerald "Jerry" Custer. Jerry is a multi-faceted choral musician, active as conductor, composer, author, and teacher. A graduate of Westminster Choir College, where he studied with Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt and later with Robert Shaw, he is Minister of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Farmington, MI and on the music faculty at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.Program funded by Middlesex County, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

This week's episode features Juliet Rafanelli. Juliet is a recent graduate of Westminster Choir College where she received her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance. She has aspirations to attend graduate school to continue training as an operatic soprano, in hopes of traveling the world to perform as a professional opera singer. Juliet is also invested in mental health advocacy and feels passionately that all bodies are equally stage-worthy. Juliet can be found on social media @JulietRafanelli.

This week, Emily interviews Paul David Flood. Paul David is pursuing his Master’s degree in Musicology at the University of California, Irvine. His research primarily focuses on developments of Nordic musical identity and modernism in Denmark. He is currently working on his Master's thesis, provisionally titled "Embracing the Outsider: Critical Perspectives toward Per Nørgård's Wölfli Works." Secondary interests include contemporary music reception, music and philosophy, vocal literature, and the Eurovision Song Contest. He received his B.A. in Music from Westminster Choir College in 2019 and is an active choral singer. You can find him on Twitter @PaulDavidFlood.

Today, we welcome our first conductor to the podcast, Ming Luke. Ming holds a Master of Fine Arts in Conducting from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College of Rider University. With a background in ballet himself, Ming has conducted for ballet performances around […] The post (203) Ming Luke, Principal Guest Conductor for the San Francisco Ballet and Principal Conductor of the Nashville Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

Today, we welcome our first conductor to the podcast, Ming Luke. Ming holds a Master of Fine Arts in Conducting from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College of Rider University. With a background in ballet himself, Ming has conducted for ballet performances around […] The post (203) Ming Luke, Principal Guest Conductor for the San Francisco Ballet and Principal Conductor of the Nashville Ballet appeared first on tendusunderapalmtree.com.

In our first episode we talk to coach, conductor, and founder of Bel Canto Boot Camp, Rachelle Jonck. We touch on a wide variety of topics including practice mindset, how to be a more empowered singer, and the importance of community right now. We'll also learn more about her new Bel Canto Boot Camp program which she aptly calls "barre class for singers." Rachelle is a coach/conductor at Teatro Nuovo, is on the faculty at Westminster Choir College, coaches at the Palm Beach Opera young artist program, and is music director of Baltimore Concert Opera. Her full bio can be found here Learn more about Bel Canto Boot Camp and sign up here! Be sure to follow us on Instagram @youngartistpodcast to get in on the conversation! Special Thanks to Rachel Abrams for our logo design and to Nick Gish for composing our theme music! He did an amazing job bringing my crazy idea to full musical life! Please check out Nick's other work on his SoundCloud --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/youngartistpodcast/message

This episode features self taught live sketch artist and illustrator Sarah Nisbett, who loves to draw people, fashions, pets and animals that she encounters “on the way” and is the creative director behind Drawn on the Way. Originally from Ann Arbor, Mich., Sarah has a B.A. in art history from the University of Michigan and an M.M. in vocal performance, from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. She moved to New York to pursue music, and after a successful career as a professional opera singer, she decided to follow her other dream of working in advertising. Now on her third career, she continues to live in NYC where she draws people and writes for a living. In this episode, Sara talks about how she curiosity about people's stories sparked her to draw people on the NYC subway. She then realized that her art was being seen and received well on social media, so she was able to transform her hobby into a business. Due to the pandemic, Sarah also explains how she is using this time to shift her work and business to other mediums. She is a true believer in the "fake it till you make it" mentality and explains why her philosophy "you are a work of art" is such a core element of her work. All of Sarah's links can be found below: Drawn On The Way: Website: www.drawonontheway.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/drawnontheway Drawn On Your Day: Turn Your Vows Into A Work Of Art Website: www.drawononyourday.com Instagram:www.instagram.com/drawnonyourday Be The Change Fundraising Collection: https://drawn-on-the-way.myshopify.com/collections/uprising-fundraising-collection And feel free to email any questions, comments or feedback about this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

In an unprecedented era of technology use in choral music, I was curious: how has technology influenced the history of choral music? I knew insight could be found from none other than the god of choral repertoire himself, Dr. Dennis Shrock. As a graduate student in choral conducting his Choral Repertoire book served as our bible for three semesters of choral literature. I poured over the many pages of his scholarship looking for insight into what the best choice would be when I was trying to determine what music to select for my graduate lecture recital. Admittedly, this was the most intimidated I have ever been for an interview. I am the farthest thing from a choral literature savant. And yet, I had to know what this man thought on this subject. I am delighted to share this interview with you. We not only talk about technology in choral music and how it's benefitted his research and writing, we gain valuable insight into his process. You'll be moved by his story. You'll be reminded of the power and influence a teacher can have on the lives of their students. You'll be inspired to listen to new music and to try your hand at arranging. And you'll also have a greater sense of appreciation for writing literature. Thank you, Dr. Shrock for this wonderful interview. to listen to a playlist of Dr. Shrock's recommended repertoire, click here and subscribe to the Choir Baton YouTube channel.  #MorePeopleSinging Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | @bethphilemon Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com and follow us on Instagram @choirbaton    Dennis Shrock is author of three books published by Oxford University Press: Choral Repertoire (2009); Choral Scores (2015); and Choral Monuments (2017). He is also author of five books published by GIA: Performing Renaissance Music (2018); Performance Practices in the Baroque Era (2013); Handel’s Messiah, A Performance Practice Handbook (2013); Performance Practices in the Classical Era (2011); and Music for Beginning Conductors­, An Anthology for Choral Conducting Classes (2011). In addition, he is co-author with James Moyer of A Conductor’s Guide to Choral/Orchestral Repertoire, and he is editor of early-music editions for the GIA Historical Music Series. Dr. Shrock has held faculty positions at Boston University, Westminster Choir College, the University of Oklahoma, and Texas Christian University, and has had residencies at the University of Delaware, Baylor University, the University of Southern California, the University of Mississippi, and Yale University. He has also served as Artistic Director of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale and Canterbury Choral Society of Oklahoma City, Interim Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, and Editor of The Choral Journal. In addition, he has been a frequent All-State conductor and lecturer at various universities and conferences of the American Choral Directors Association. He has received a number of awards and recognitions for his work. The City of Santa Fe declared December 22, 2003 “Dennis Shrock Day,” Westminster Choir College granted him an “Alumni Merit Award,” the state of Oklahoma conferred on him a citation for “Contributions of Excellence,” and the University of Oklahoma granted him two “Distinguished Lectureships” and named him a “Presidential Professor.” Dr. Shrock received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Westminster Choir College a

"It really drives me crazy when opera singers bash choir or hate on their time in choir when they were younger, and I'm like, "Why?! You're good at this now because of that!"" Tune in to this week's episode to hear Ryan and award-winning dramatic soprano, Felicia Moore, geek out about Westminster Choir College while they talk about the good, bad, and ugly of finding the right voice teacher, truly owning your voice and your body, and hear Ryan crown Felicia the "Lizzo of Opera" while discussing diversity on stage and the need for singers of all shapes and sizes. This installment of Keep Calm and Choir On features Revolution, guillotines, and true stories from Francis Poulenc's "Dialogues des Carmélites" as well as Gustav Mahler's "Resurrection" Symphony (No. 2), and a dramatic reading of the goliath forces it requires from Dennis Shrock's "Choral Repertoire." To learn more about what you heard, use the links below: Felicia Moore: www.feliciamoore.comWestminster Choir College: www.rider.edu/wcc

Bryan Underwood is a brilliant musician. He left Wytheville, VA as a teenager to attend Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. There, he honed his craft, spread some Appalachian culture, and finally "learned" how to make spaghetti. Bryan is an awesome guest, because he recognizes how special his Appalachian roots are, in spite of having a broad background that includes a New England education. Bryan talks about his family, their cooking traditions, holiday gatherings, and family heirlooms. He is so charming and witty, you're going to love hearing from him in this episode. Get comfy, we know you're not going anywhere, and enjoy the show with Bryan Underwood.

Episode 68 - Dr. Joe Miller talks about the Westminster Choir College and traveling to perform throughout the world. Be sure to subscribe for more great shows on music education, and to find a full archive of past podcast episodes, go to http://www.beyondtheclef.com. Also, join the music education and student travel conversation on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/beyondtheclef

My guest today is Gail Blache-Gill. Gail is a professional choral singer, conductor, pianist, educator, and minister of music. Born and raised in Trinidad, Gail moved to NYC when she was  17 years old. She first attended Lehman College in the Bronx majoring in math, then joined the choir at Brooklyn College, before moving to Princeton, NJ to complete her studies at Westminster Choir College. Gail toured with “Porgy and Bess” for 9 years, taught music in Brooklyn, Hawaii, Harlem and New Jersey, sings with the Alvin Ailey Gospel Choir, conducts the Haitian gospel choir, The Spirituals, based in Brooklyn, NY, and is currently the Minister of Music at The Church of St. Paul and the Incarnation in Jersey City, NJ. Authentic, vulnerable and compassionate; Gail has learned to be a deep listener: to the past, to  young people, to the numerous doors that open before us; a sign, she believes, of the universe’s loving support. Gail believes the only reason we are here on this earth is to love; help each other and be kind to each other. Music has been a natural vehicle for Gail to be an instrument of God’s peace. She claims that singing is her passion and music is her ministry. Join me on March 12th at the NY Historical Society’s program ‘Black Women and the 19th Amendment’ to hear Gail and her gifted friends sing. See links to this event in the show notes.  Enjoy the podcast! Links: Brent Staples NY Historical Society March 12 Program The Church of St. Paul and the Incarnation Jersey City, NJ Alvin Ailey Gospel Choir

Episode Quotes: "There are comfort pieces of music that travel with us throughout our lives. Those pieces supposedly stay the same, so it must be ourselves that are changing. It is the changing circumstances in our lives that allow the music to grow through someone. You can hear the changed life." "Lazy people memorize and that leads to mastery" On this episode: Joel Phillips is a capital “M” musician. He has taught theory and composition at Westminster Choir College for over 35 years! He has many valuable messages to share through music. His birthday was just this past Sunday so help celebrate with this episode. At the end of the show I ask each guest the one word they would like to be remembered by and I think it is fitting with this week being Valentine’s Day that Joel chose the word LOVE!! What you’ll get on this episode: • How Joel incorporates movement through music and the unlikely person he found total grace and beauty in (7:44) • Why music is such a simple gift and how through the arts, people can open their heart. He shares how this openness leads to inspiration and stunning communication (14:00) • Joel’s take on rap music! (16:00) • Did Mozart’s and Hamilton’s tireless work effort lead to their demise? (21:00) • How Joel relates comfort food to musical pieces that we carry throughout our lives (26:25) • How Joel teaches his students to be lazy! (30:49) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode No. 77 Dr. Joe Miller, Conductor of Westminster Choir and head of the Choral Department, and Dr Marshall Onofrio, Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Westminster Choir College, Princeton.As Westminster Choir celebrates its 100th Anniversary you will hear from its present conductor, Dr. Joe Miller and the Dean of the Choir College about the rich history of these 100 years. The great tradition of John Finley Williamson and Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt is the foundation of this great legacy now continued into the next century by Dr. Miller. He will give an explanation of the anniversary tour program and the significance of the pieces which he chose. Also hear about the future projects of the choir as they prepare for the annual Spoleto Festival in Italy and performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Dr. Onofrio looks into the complicated future of the Choir College as it moves to the Rider University campus in Lawrenceville, NJ. Marshall has complete confidence in a bright future for this worthy institution. With a strong alumni association here in Los Angeles, we are all hoping and praying he is correct in his forecast. MUSIC: I sat down under his shadow Bairstow: (CD: Martin Mass for Double Choir)MUSIC: O How Amiable Ralph Vaughan Williams (CD: Favorite Hymns and Anthems)MUSIC: Vocal Quartets, Op. 64 - An Die Heimat Brahms (CD: Singing for Pleasure)MUSIC: O Magnum Mysterium Elder (CD: The Heart’s Reflection)MUSIC: Sanctus from Mass for Double Choir Martin: (CD: Martin: Mass for Double Choir)Original Air Date: February 1, 2020

Episode No. 77 Dr. Joe Miller, Conductor of Westminster Choir and head of the Choral Department, and Dr Marshall Onofrio,...

An interview with a cappella group The Deaftones, from Westminster Choir College. Originally aired April 1st, 2019. Learn more about this group here: https://www.facebook.com/TheDeaftonesWCC.

An interview with a cappella group The Deaftones, from Westminster Choir College. Originally aired April 1st, 2019. Learn more about this group here: https://www.facebook.com/TheDeaftonesWCC.

Kristen Seikaly is a blogger, content writer, and creative writer. She also happens to be an ex-opera singer. She’s got a MM from Westminster Choir College in Voice Performance and Pedagogy and has performed in venues such as the Kimmel Center and Academy of Music, and has participated in operatic productions with companies such as...

“An elegant, mellifluous and expressive baritone” (New York Times), Charles Wesley Evans has been applauded by The Miami Herald as “the peak of the night’s solo work” and “a warm, strong baritone” by the Washington Post. This Georgia-born baritone began singing professionally at the age of 11 as a chorister at The American Boychoir School in Princeton, New Jersey where he performed nationally and internationally under the baton of notable conductors, Zubin Mehta, Lorin Maazel, James Levine, John Williams and Vladimir Spivakov. With a versatility that ranges from the Baroque to Gospel and African-American Spirituals, he has engaged a myriad of audiences with performances of song that are programmed to intrigue the novice and feed the soul of the avid concert goer. His solo work has offered opportunities across the US with the Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Austin Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Delaware Philharmonic, Berkshire Baroque, the Dryden Ensemble, Princeton Pro Musica, Music in Somerset Hills, and the Masterworks Chorus and orchestra in Carnegie Hall. He is a passionate supporter and performer of professional choral practices and is a proud member of the Carmel Bach Festival Chorale (Carmel, CA), Grammy-nominated Seraphic Fire (Miami, FL), The Choir of Trinity Wall Street and the Grammy-award winning ensemble Conspirare (Austin, TX). His singing has been broadcast on New York Public Radio, South Florida Public Radio, California Public Radio and Classical MPR (Minnesota). He has served on the voice faculties of the University of South Florida, University of Tampa and is currently artist faculty for the Aspen Music Festival (Professional Choral Institute) and Director of Choral and Vocal Studies at Choate Rosemary Hall. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Brewton-Parker College in Mt. Vernon, GA with further study at the Boston Conservatory of Music and Westminster Choir College of Rider University (Princeton, NJ).

In this episode of HR Works we discuss equal pay surrounding the Women’s U.S. soccer team—especially in the light of their recent World Cup victory with two experts Tom Cunningham and Charles Bendotti. Following is a partial transcript. For the full transcript of this episode, go here: https://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/2019/07/24/discussing-equal-pay-and-the-u-s-womens-soccer-team/ Jim: Hello, everyone, and welcome to HR Works, the podcast for HR professionals. We really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to join us. I am Jim Davis, the host of HR Works and the editor of the HR Daily Advisor. Today, we’re going to talk about gender pay equality, specifically with regard to the U.S. women’s soccer team’s situation. They just won their fourth World Cup victory just about a week ago, and there is a pay equality issue in the works and some lawsuits. It’s a little bit complicated, but here to discuss pay equality in general and the situation with the U.S. women’s soccer team are two guests. I am pleased to introduce Tom Cunningham, Vice President of People at Pariveda. Am I saying that correctly? Tom: You are. That’s close enough. Jim: Excellent. It’s an organization that prides itself on its transparency. He oversees internal learning activities, recruiting HR functions, and office operations, ensuring that the company’s people are supported in their continuous development throughout their journey. Before moving into this role in 2017, Tom served as the office-managing Vice President for the New York market. He was responsible for building, growing, and managing the local market consulting practice. Tom holds a BA from Yale and an advanced degree in music performance from Westminster Choir College. We’re also pleased to introduce our second guest, Charles Bendotti, Senior Vice President of People and Culture at Philip Morris International (PMI). He was the architect behind the global equal salary certification and has been with PMI since 1999, when he started as a business analyst. He was named Vice President of Human Resources Asia in 2012 and was elevated to his current role in 2016. Charles holds a master’s degree in international relations, economy, and law from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, and an executive MBA from HEC Paris. Jim: Thank you both so much for joining us today. Tom: My pleasure. Charles: My pleasure, as well. Jim: So, just to introduce the situation, I’m sure most of our listeners are aware, but the U.S. women’s soccer team won its fourth World Cup victory just about 10 days ago. And leading up to that team, leading up to that victory, was a lot of discussion about pay equity. Indeed, when the team won, the whole stadium began chanting “Equal pay.” The pay situation is a bit complicated, and we don’t have to get down to the details, but the Guardian did a great job of running down what the men would have been paid if they had made it this far (which, by the way, they never have) and what the women will make. It’s a bit of an estimation, but it’s saying that each woman will have earned $260,000, and the men would have earned $1,114,000 if they had gotten as far. Clearly, those numbers are not the same. So, we’re just here to discuss what’s going on. What do you guys think about it? And what do you think about pay equity in general? So, I guess the first question is, does that sound like equal pay to you? Charles: So, Charles talking here. Let’s make a very clear statement: It’s not equal pay. I mean, if the U.S. women’s soccer team worked for PMI, they would be paid exactly the same as the men’s soccer team. So, I think there’s no question about it. There is no equality on this one. And I think we need to go straight to the point about it and be very clear about what we’re saying. If, as you say, the women’s soccer team generates more revenue than the men’s soccer team, by default, they have to be paid more.

We had a great discussion with the Westminster Choir College Deaftones when they joined us in the mobile studio - they talked about re-engaging with competition after a rough time, about how they pick tunes, and about why they're excited to bring contemporary a cappella into their music classrooms after they graduate and start teaching. They also sounded great singing for us, too!

We had a great discussion with the Westminster Choir College Deaftones when they joined us in the mobile studio - they talked about re-engaging with competition after a rough time, about how they pick tunes, and about why they're excited to bring contemporary a cappella into their music classrooms after they graduate and start teaching. They also sounded great singing for us, too!

Adam Dietz grew up in small-town Pennsylvania, went to Westminster Choir College in New Jersey, and then moved to New York to seek his fortune on the Broadway stage. Things didn't go quite the way he'd planned. Adam and I talk about what it's like to audition in New York, how to survive even without your creative dream coming true—and the effects of making that sacrifice—and how you actually can come home again and find work that fulfills your dream, even if home is a rural area rather than the big city.

The Challenges of Leading a Nonprofit Association: David Bone, FUMMWA Jim Rindelaub, ALCM Kelly Abraham, PAM FUMMWA David L. Bone has served since 1991 as the Executive Director of The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. In this position, he manages the program and financial affairs of The Fellowship. David is also the co-author of “The United Methodist Music and Worship Planner” and “Prepare! A Weekly Worship Planbook.” David was on the worship planning teams for the 2012 and 2016 General Conferences of The UMC.   David holds Master of Music degrees in Sacred Music and Choral Conducting from Southern Methodist University. David is a regular clinician at local and national events in the areas of music, worship, and choral conducting.     The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Artsexists to assist worship leaders in creating meaningful worship experiences that bring people into deeper relationships with God and each other. Founded in 1955 as the National Fellowship of Methodist Musicians, The Fellowship has grown to include worship artists, clergy, and laity involved in all aspects of worship from a variety of denominations and experiences.     ACLM   Jim Rindelaubis a lifelong Lutheran with church music degrees from St. Olaf College and Westminster Choir College. He has served as the organist/music director at Saint Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, FL, Grace Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg, NJ, Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn, IL, First United Lutheran Church in Dallas, TX and currently Ascension Lutheran Church in Indian Harbour Beach, FL. He was the founding director of Jacksonville's Community Bach Vespers Chorus and Chamber Orchestra. Jim has served on the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians National Board as Region II president and was the organization's 2003 National Conference Chair held in San Diego. He has served in various offices for local American Guild of Organists and Choristers Guild Chapters. As a deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Jim chaired synodical worship committees in Florida and Illinois. Jim served as the Choristers Guild executive director from 2004 - 2017.         The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians: Music is a vital expression of Lutheran worship. The church's song takes many forms and is expressed in many ways. By sharing the knowledge, experience and passion that honor our heritage and inspire our future, ALCM nurtures and equips those who lead music in worship. ALCM offers practical education programs and diverse resources through conferences, publications and fellowship to serve musicians of all types – from paid professionals to volunteers. By connecting servant leaders to one another and by cultivating their musical gifts, ALCM supports worshipping communities in the proclamation of the gospel. PAM   Kelly Abraham serves the Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) from its headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. Before joining PAM, she was the Director of Youth & Families at First Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Kentucky. And a lifetime before that, she spent her days in fiscal administration at the University of Missouri-Columbia.  She is a graduate of University of Puget Sound (accounting & business) and University of Missouri - Columbia (MBA).  She loves youth, music, collaborative worship planning, strong liturgy and the synergy that comes with working with people not like her. She is married to Kirk and the mother of two teenage girls.   The Presbyterian Association of Musiciansprovides resources, conferences, publications and a vast network of members who are engaged in worship, music, and the arts worldwide. Becoming a member of PAM gives you instant access to these valuable benefits which will improve your worship planning for any size church in any location with information addressing new and old issues facing all denominations. ​Choir directors, worship musicians, organists, Christian educators, artists, clergy, and lay people will find PAM to be a valuable resource for creative worship planning. PAM is not just for Presbyterians. Other denominations find our resources, conferences, and publications helpful in their service to God. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month we’ll be hearing about Bach’s so-called Calov Bible, a rare surviving example of the composer’s once-robust theological library and, for many scholars, a window into Bach’s life and work. Joining us to discuss the Calov Bible is Dr. Robin Leaver, one of the first scholars to extensively explore Bach’s copy of what is really a three-volume German theological commentary built largely on Martin Luther’s writings. Dr. Leaver is author of numerous books and articles about Bach, theology, and Lutheranism. He is Emeritus Professor at Westminster Choir College and, until recently, Visiting Professor at Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. More Resources: Click here to read about, or order, the Calov Bible Commentary facsimile published last year. Read more about Dr. Leaver’s book J.S. Bach and Scripture: Glosses from the Calov Bible Commentary. For an accessible and recent example of how one noted Bach scholar has used the Calov Bible to interpret aspects of Bach’s biography, read this New York Times article by Michael Marissen. For more about Dr. Leaver’s background and academic career, check out this 2017 interview. For more images from the original volumes, visit the webpage of Concordia Seminary, where the Calov Bible has resided since the 1930s. (Image of title page of Bach's Calov Bible Commentary, below, courtesy of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.)

Jessica Marcinkowski is a teacher, singer, and actress from Central Jersey. She has played Maria in West Side Story, and appeared in community theater productions of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Honk, Titanic, and Beauty and the Beast. She has performed as a soloist with Eric Whitacre at Carnegie Hall and at a Benjamin Britten concert in Oxford University. She programmed and sang solo senior voice and Master’s Capstone recitals at her alma mater, Westminster Choir College. She has vocal directed three consecutive runs of They Call It Gravy, We Call It Sauce, and the 2017 Summer Stage productions at Moorestown Theatre Company. As a person with cerebral palsy, Jess is a staunch advocate for disability representation in the arts

In the second part of this episode, I look to Anthony Maglione for insight into this topic from the collegiate perspective. Conductor/Composer/Tenor Anthony J. Maglione is a graduate of Westminster Choir College of Rider University, East Carolina University, and the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the Director of Choral Studies at William Jewell … Continue reading "Episode 4: Part 2. Seeing the Trees (There is no forest) with Tony Maglione"

In the second part of this episode, I look to Anthony Maglione for insight into this topic from the collegiate perspective. Conductor/Composer/Tenor Anthony J. Maglione is a graduate of Westminster Choir College of Rider University, East Carolina University, and the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the Director of Choral Studies at William Jewell … Continue reading "Episode 4: Part 2. Seeing the Trees (There is no forest) with Tony Maglione"

This is the story of Stephen Webb, "The Singing Realtor." Stephen is a professionally trained singer who graduated Belmont with a degree in Classical Vocal Performance and went on to Westminster Choir College to get his Master’s degree in Vocal Performance. After an extensive performing career in musical theater, opera, and concert work, he eventually settled in Nashville, TN and began pursuing real estate full time. Stephen has infused his love of singing with his passion for real estate and has branded himself as "The Singing Realtor." Stephen is an incredible real estate professional while still bringing his own sense of style and exuberance to a traditionally stale industry. We highly recommend him if you are looking to buy or sell your home in the greater Nashville area. Thanks for checking out Get to Know Nashville! Be sure to checkout more great stories: Subscribe on Youtube, follow us on Instagram (@gettoknownashville) and Facebook Follow Stephen on Instagram (@the.singing.realtor), Facebook and check out his website. Special thanks to Metro North Homes for allowing us to film in their beautiful model home. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/gettoknownashville/support

The voice is our primary way of expressing ourselves, and vocal problems can have a profound impact on our well-being and relationships. If you've ever been unable to speak for a while, like during laryngitis, you know how challenging it is not to have a voice. I found out for myself just how important the voice is when I experienced vocal difficulties that turned out to be related to a benign growth in my larynx. I had surgery to remove the growth, and then completed vocal training to practice more effective ways to speak and prevent recurrence of the problem. My vocal therapist recommended I pursue additional training to integrate the body and the voice, which led me to Mark Moliterno. Mark has developed a unique blend of vocal training and yoga therapy called YogaVoice®. As we discuss in this week's episode, the voice doesn't begin or end in the throat; it involves the entire body, from our feet to our heads, as well as our minds and energy. Mark has a gift for teaching, as you'll hear in this episode. He treats the whole person, not just the voice, and greater vocal strength and integrity are one of the important results of that work. I'm deeply grateful for the work I've done with him. In this episode we explore: The role of the voice in our self-identity What the quality of our voice can reveal about us The connection between the voice and the body The effects of stress and trauma on the voice How the chakra system relates to the voice How Mark developed the YogaVoice® program Mark's background in professional singing and yoga instruction Mark Moliterno, MM, has extensive experience in both voice and yoga. He is an accomplished professional opera singer as well as a voice and yoga teacher, certified Yoga Therapist, workshop leader, and author. He specializes in helping people understand and overcome blockages to their authentic voices, both physical and energetic. Mark holds bachelor's and master's degrees in voice and opera from the Oberlin Conservatory of music; he completed additional musical studies at Rutgers University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Study in Aldeburgh, England, and the Hochschüle für Musik, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Mark is a longstanding member of the voice faculty at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, and also maintains private voice and yoga therapy studios in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. In addition to his career as a performer and educator, Mark is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher and an IAYT-certified Yoga Therapist. He presents YogaVoice® workshops at professional conferences and gatherings nationally and internationally. Mark has published articles in YogaLiving Magazine and The Journal of Singing; is co-author of The Musician’s Breath; and is the author and featured instructor of The Musician’s Breath Yoga DVD. His work related to overcoming performance anxiety was featured in an article entitled "How to Be Fearless" in the May 2014 Yoga Journal magazine. For a description of Mark's approach from a singer who worked with him, check out this article: Learning to sing: lessons from a yogi voice teacher. Find Mark online at his YogaVoice® website.

As promised, this episode of our podcast features a conversation with conductor, teacher, and author Dr. James Jordan–He is basically one of the giants in choral music and education right now, a professor at Westminster Choir College and conductor of the critically acclaimed Westminster Williamson Voices, the editor of GIA’s Evoking Sound choral music series, […] The post Sing Amen! The Podcast, Episode 4: Dr. James Jordan, On Trust, Honesty, and Breathing in Front of Other People appeared first on Sing Amen.

This week we visit with Sarah Aroeste. Sarah, American-born and trained in classical opera at Westminster Choir College and Yale University, was inspired by her family's Sephardic roots in Greece and Macedonia. She's spent the last 15 years bringing her contemporary style of original and traditional Ladino music to audiences around the world. On July 15, 2018 she'll be taking the stage at Yidstock along with Anthony Russell. Episode 0186 May 23, 2018 Yiddish Book Center Amherst, MA

Imposter syndrome is real, and it means that you are human and have achieved success. Be thankful that you have these feelings; they mean you are accomplishing something worthwhile. But that doesn’t make it easy to deal with. For this penultimate podcast episode, Ryan returns to one of the post prevalent issues plaguing directors. Name your imposter syndrome, call it out for what it is, and then keep on doing amazing things. [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Show Notes:   Feeling like an imposter?   Yes. Duh. Of course. Anyone who has achieved any modicum of success (unless they're up their own butt) deals with imposter syndrome.   What is it? It’s the fear that you'll be found out; the idea that you're actually a fraud and don't deserve what you've worked so hard to achieve. YOU worked hard and have realized some success. And because YOU'RE responsible for your own success, you feel like YOU put yourself there. Which you did. Which is why it's easier to tell yourself you're a fraud.   The reality You deserve your success, for the same reason you feel like an imposter: YOU earned it yourself. Remember, everyone else is working toward their own successes, so why should you feel like you shouldn't.   Being successful puts you in the spotlight Now you not only deal with imposter syndrome, you deal with people who hate you for your success. So, now you speak negativity to yourself for the same reasons: Maybe because you took something other than the traditional path, and they watched you take a shortcut and are envious. Maybe you're just plain talented and don't have to work as hard. Maybe you worked harder than others were willing to work. Maybe your focus was on serving others, and those others are giving you all the attention. Maybe you operate in an environment where your peers believe in a zero-sum game, even though you don't. Maybe you're anti-establishment and just popped out of nowhere, not taking the traditional path to success. Maybe those with a higher degree of education (or debt) are struggling, but you chose a different route. Maybe… You name it.   The problem with listening to your imposter syndrome You stop doing what helped you achieve success in the first place. You, by proxy, allow your critics to control you and your level of anxiety. It's a losing scenario, because if you listen to your imposter syndrome and kill your success your self-talk changes and attacks you for being a failure.   So what do you do? Understand that it's part of being successful. Say “Of course. Just when I'm trying to enjoy life… Here you are!” Name it. (Mine is Phil) Put it in a bubble. Push it out. Affirm, out loud, that you deserve success. Name, out loud, all the people that have benefited along the way. Keep a “Smile File” of notes, emails, cards, articles, and things having to do with your journey that make you smile. Have someone you can talk to about your imposter syndrome who will be your cheerleader. Could be a best friend or spouse, or it could be someone you meet in Choir Nation. Bio: Having spent most of his middle and high school career in detention, Ryan Guth loves to speak to audiences about ways for choral directors to engage the seemingly un-engageable. Ryan learned fearlessness and indomitable spirit from a young age through many years studying the martial arts while also pursuing music – especially the time in middle school when he tried to break a board with his head in front his entire ninth grade class and failed spectacularly. He believes the best choir directors face challenges head-on (no pun intended), are solutions-oriented, and take full responsibility for all aspects of their program.  Ryan’s most popular and surprisingly positive article “Your Choir Sucks Because You Suck” was shared over 2,200 times in 48 hours, and has since become his manifesto, mantra, and the platform that his work was built upon. Through his first podcast, Find Your Forte, Ryan connected thousands of weekly listeners with some of the most brilliant minds in choral music such as Helmuth Rilling, Patrick Quigley, Joseph Flummerfelt, James Bass, and 80-plus others. He recognizes the fact we become the best when we learn from the best. In 2017, Ryan created the Choir Ninja podcast to share solutions with middle and high school choral directors so they learn to work smarter – not harder. That’s why he focuses on sharing what works in choral programs across Choir Nation in a way that makes running a great choral program approachable, fun, and rewarding. When not dressing up in his ninja jammies or buffing his diploma from Westminster Choir College, Ryan is a financial advisor in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Before that, he spent a decade building a large middle school program and for-profit choral ensemble  and musical theater business in central New Jersey. Ryan’s choirs have been heard alongside GRAMMY winners Kenny Rogers, Linda Davis, and The Chieftains and on the stages of Boston’s Symphony Hall, Philadelpha’s Mann Music Center, and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, to name a few. In July 2017, he made his Wolf Trap debut as Chorusmaster with the National Symphony Orchestra as they performed the music of the wildly popular Zelda video game. Ryan was the keynote speaker at the 2017 Iowa Choral Directors Association Annual Summer Symposium, has been a presenter at the Chorus America Annual Conference, and a guest speaker at various other conferences and workshops throughout the year in both the choral and podcasting niches.Ryan enjoys getting lost outdoors with his beautiful fiancé, Amanda, and pitbull-lab Sasha. He also dislikes socks and only wears them when absolutely necessary. This bio was sponsored by Gold Bond Powder. Resources/links Mentioned: Agnes Isn’t the Boss of You, with Lynn Lyons Choir Nation group on Facebook Sponsored by: Introducing Sheet Music Deals!     Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!)     My Music Folders (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for “last column” or best pricing - usually reserved for bulk purchases only!) WHILE YOU ARE THERE, PREORDER CHOIRS ARE HORRIBLE!      

This episode first aired in July 2017: Drawing on lessons learned while losing at pool, Ryan shares what it means to have an entrepreneurial mindset as a  choir director. You will hear strategies about how to win at pool, how to lose at pool, and how to embarrassingly injure a friend during pool (with a step by step guide in the show notes). You will also hear why it is so important that we mindfully choose which kind of game we are going to play, which entrepreneurial super-skills you already posses, and how to avoid the traps that prevent you from being the real thing.   Highlight to Tweet: “If your win is a standing ovation, you need a bigger win” - Ryan Guth   Show Notes: You are already functioning as an entrepreneur in 2 WAYS: Through Task: Recruitment = Sales Market concerts Concert Programs = Graphic Design Press releases = PR Concerts = Event planning Working one-on-one with a student who’s more invested than the others = Coaching Talking to parents = Counseling/Negotiation Sending detailed emails so your students do what you need them to do = Copywriting Making resources for students like practice tracks = content marketing Updating your “teacher page” = web design Creating and upholding the rules in your choir handbook = Contracts Making an itinerary for your choir’s trip to Disney World = Travel planning Budgeting = Budgeting Picking the uniforms = fashion design Problem solver Through thought: Knows his/her own “why” Stands for something Abundance-minded Proactive Solutions-oriented Focused on personal growth and learning. Self-aware Places the greatest value on helping others before themselves. Knows other people's “Why” Takes ego out of the equation Confident in his/her unique value proposition to the world.   What’s holding you back from being great? Listening to haters and critics. It’s a long game, and a numbers game. You have to get through your “no’s.” “Good” concerts are part of the process. They aren’t all great. Worrying about things outside your control. Blaming others Comparing yourself to others Zero-sum mentality When you get close to success, imposter syndrome tries to shut you down. The biggest pitfall is sometimes the smallest one: small goals that produce small wins   Construct a big “win”...not one based solely on applause, scores, or the admiration of others. Bio: Having spent most of his middle and high school career in detention, Ryan Guth loves to speak to audiences about ways for choral directors to engage the seemingly un-engageable. Ryan learned fearlessness and indomitable spirit from a young age through many years studying the martial arts while also pursuing music – especially the time in middle school when he tried to break a board with his head in front his entire ninth grade class and failed spectacularly. He believes the best choir directors face challenges head-on (no pun intended), are solutions-oriented, and take full responsibility forall aspects of their program.  Ryan’s most popular and surprisingly positive article “Your Choir Sucks Because You Suck” was shared over 2,200 times in 48 hours, and has since become his manifesto, mantra, and the platform that his work was built upon. Through his first podcast, Find Your Forte, Ryan connected thousands of weekly listeners with some of the most brilliant minds in choral music such as Helmuth Rilling, Patrick Quigley, Joseph Flummerfelt, James Bass, and 80-plus others. He recognizes the fact we become the best when we learn from the best. Ryan Guth recently created the Choir Ninja podcast to share solutions with middle and high school choral directors so they learn to work smarter – not harder. That’s why he focuses on sharing what works in choral programs across Choir Nation in a way that makes running a great choral program approachable, fun, and rewarding. When not dressing up in his ninja jammies or buffing his diploma from Westminster Choir College, Ryan is a high school choir director in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Before that, he spent a decade building a large middle school program and six-figure-choral-ensemble-based-for-profit-business in central New Jersey. He is also the founder and sole member of the Hyphenation Club of America. Ryan will be the keynote speaker at the Iowa Choral Directors Association Annual Summer Symposium, a presenter at the Chorus America Convention in the Summer of 2017, and a guest speaker at various other conferences and workshops throughout the year. Ryan enjoys getting lost outdoors with his beautiful fiancé, Amanda, and pitbull-lab Sasha. He also dislikes socks and only wears them when absolutely necessary. This bio was sponsored by Gold Bond Powder.   Resources/links Mentioned: Choir Nation group on Facebook Email Patreon - Support the podcast! Instructions for setting up a nut-shot in a game of pool:1. Tell the unsuspecting victim you know a cool trickshot, but that you’ll need him to be your assistant. 2. Place the quarter about 8 inches from the end of the table, right down the center line. 3. Have your victim position himself behind  the quarter.4.  Hand him the two balls and, whilst patting him on the back, tell him “Now you have 4!”5. Ask the victim to place one ball at each of the corner pockets, hanging over the edge, just about to fall in.6. Direct your victim to place his pointer fingers on each ball to prevent them from accidentally falling into the pocket. 7. He will need to brace himself, so remind him to take a step back and balance on both feet.8. Now, walk to the other end of the table, and explain that through magic and complex feats of 9th grade geometry, in one shot, you will hit the two balls into each pocket. ;)9. Place the cue ball on the dot, aim for the quarter, and… if you hit the quarter just right… it’ll jump off the table directly into the victim’s unsuspecting “huevos rancheros”. 10.  Lastly, point at your victim and have a good laugh at his expense.   Sponsored by: Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!) My Music Folders (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for “last column” or best pricing - usually reserved for bulk purchases only!) Sheet Music Deals (Use promo code "NINJA" to receive 20% off all Bri-Lee and Carl Fischer Music publications)    

In December especially, choral directors spend their days focused on serving others so much that they often neglect their own needs. Here are some ways to stay charged in the coming weeks until Christmas! You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. You have so many in your choirs who depend on your gifts to get them through this often very difficult season. You have the potential to help heal the pain of loss or loneliness that some people feel at this time. It make take extra energy, compassion, and patience in order to serve the members of your choir in a time when energy, compassion, and patience are in short supply. [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android]   Highlight to Tweet: “Pee clear, pee often.” - Amanda Simon Show Notes: This is a long, but incredibly rewarding season. Remember to keep these items in mind to maximize the rewards of your work and stay present with those who need you! Keep in mind: You’re a servant and a leader year-round and especially in December! Wake up with a sense of duty and be grateful! You get to do what you love, and get paid for it. You will make audience members’ days/months/years with your musical offerings. You’ll touch people that you’ll never meet and in ways that you’ll never know. You’re giving families a reason to get together and celebrate with each other for potentially the only time in a year. Your duty IS your escape from December. If you do it well, you won’t need an escape, because your soul will be fed by what you do. Thank your family for supporting you/putting up with you by… smiling (sometimes you fake it till you make it so your brain believes your happy – See distress tolerance techniques). showing more affection to your loved ones/significant other. hugging your kids and reading them bedtime stories every night you can. reschedule dinner at a new common time with your loved ones so that you don’t miss that very essential part of your life. Follow these nutrition guidelines to stay on top of your game Avoid fast food. If necessary, choose healthy options. Eat a big breakfast PROTEIN/COMPLEX CARBS: Eggs scramble (loaded with avocado and veggies like spinach, peppers, tomatoes) Cook in healthy oils such as coconut oil or avocado oil Oatmeal Berries Smoothie (banana, peanut butter, almond milk, with optional protein powder) BUY A NUTRIBULLET Stay prepared Pack your meals (lunch or dinner) if you won’t be home to make them Carry snacks with you, so you don’t end at in the vending machine Protein bar (like Quest or Luna bars) with less than 10g of sugar Mixed nuts (packs like Trader Joe’s) Apples for appetite suppression “Batch prepare” your meals Stay hydrated (pee clear and often) It’ll keep you full Heightens energy Keeps the voice working Minimizes the chance of stress headaches Aids in proper digestion Releases toxins Remember, it’s okay to say no… to requests that may derail your momentum to substances that may slow you down feeling guilty when you’re not working Don’t give up on exercise If you don’t have a regular routine, you can look up 15 minute exercises on YouTube to do naked in your bedroom before school. Get sleep 7-8 hours/per night – especially before performances Your DVR is your best friend You can catch up on your shows during the Christmas break Sleep in a dark room Lavender on the pillow Use meditations like these to fall asleep In the case of a meltdown Go back to gratitude. Close your eyes and do this meditation. (Warning: Bad Language) Breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 2, breathe out for 6. Do a grounding exercise 5 things you see 4 things your hear 3 things you feel 2 things you smell 1 thing you taste Bio: Having spent most of his middle and high school career in detention, Ryan Guth loves to speak to audiences about ways for choral directors to engage the seemingly un-engageable. Ryan learned fearlessness and indomitable spirit from a young age through many years studying the martial arts while also pursuing music – especially the time in middle school when he tried to break a board with his head in front his entire ninth grade class and failed spectacularly.He believes the best choir directors face challenges head-on (no pun intended), are solutions-oriented, and take full responsibility forall aspects of their program.  Ryan’s most popular and surprisingly positive article “Your Choir Sucks Because You Suck” was shared over 2,200 times in 48 hours, and has since become his manifesto, mantra, and the platform that his work was built upon. Through his first podcast, Find Your Forte, Ryan connected thousands of weekly listeners with some of the most brilliant minds in choral music such as Helmuth Rilling, Patrick Quigley, Joseph Flummerfelt, James Bass, and 80-plus others. He recognizes the fact we become the best when we learn from the best.Ryan Guth recently created the Choir Ninja podcast to share solutions with middle and high school choral directors so they learn to work smarter – not harder. That’s why he focuses on sharing what works in choral programs across Choir Nation in a way that makes running a great choral program approachable, fun, and rewarding. When not dressing up in his ninja jammies or buffing his diploma from Westminster Choir College, Ryan is a financial advisor in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Before that, he spent a decade building a large middle school program and six-figure-choral-ensemble-based-for-profit-business in central New Jersey. He is also the founder and sole member of the Hyphenation Club of America.Ryan enjoys getting lost outdoors with his beautiful fiancé, Amanda, and pitbull-lab Sasha. He also dislikes socks and only wears them when absolutely necessary. This bio was sponsored by Gold Bond Powder. Resources/links Mentioned: Choir Nation group on Facebook Email Patreon - Support the podcast! Sponsored by: Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!)     My Music Folders (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for “last column” or best pricing - usually reserved for bulk purchases only!)    

The Cost of Early Adoption, with Ryan Guth   The best choir directors are innovators, which is great for their choirs. But there are costs and risks involved in blazing a new trail, and those risks don’t just land on your shoulders, Director; they are shared by your choir. So before you implement that new vision or schedule or teaching method, make sure you are aware of your responsibilities. Ryan shares the lessons he has learned as a lifelong innovator/entrepreneur, focusing on his most recent venture, the Choirs Are Horrible card game.   Tweet this: “If you are going to trailblaze a new path, there is going to be some fallout.” - @RyanMGuth          Show Notes: “Early adopters” are those who buy into the product from the first. Whether it’s Tesla, solar panels, or Choir Ninja, early adopters pay a premium for being first in line. The cost is higher, and the product is not as good as it will be in a few years. Sometimes you go to a conference or summer class and get a new vision for your choir program. It’s time for big exciting changes! But this means your students are early adopters. There are risks involved in being an innovator, and the risks are shared by you and your students. Your responsibilities: Admit what you don’t know. Be transparent. Embrace under promising and over delivering. Ask for feedback. It’s okay to apologize when thing don’t turn out according to your plan. Bio: Having spent most of his middle and high school career in detention, Ryan Guth loves to speak to audiences about ways for choral directors to engage the seemingly un-engageable. Ryan learned fearlessness and indomitable spirit from a young age through many years studying the martial arts while also pursuing music – especially the time in middle school when he tried to break a board with his head in front his entire ninth grade class and failed spectacularly.He believes the best choir directors face challenges head-on (no pun intended), are solutions-oriented, and take full responsibility forall aspects of their program.  Ryan’s most popular and surprisingly positive article “Your Choir Sucks Because You Suck” was shared over 2,200 times in 48 hours, and has since become his manifesto, mantra, and the platform that his work was built upon. Through his first podcast, Find Your Forte, Ryan connected thousands of weekly listeners with some of the most brilliant minds in choral music such as Helmuth Rilling, Patrick Quigley, Joseph Flummerfelt, James Bass, and 80-plus others. He recognizes the fact we become the best when we learn from the best.Ryan Guth recently created the Choir Ninja podcast to share solutions with middle and high school choral directors so they learn to work smarter – not harder. That’s why he focuses on sharing what works in choral programs across Choir Nation in a way that makes running a great choral program approachable, fun, and rewarding. When not dressing up in his ninja jammies or buffing his diploma from Westminster Choir College, Ryan is a financial advisor in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Before that, he spent a decade building a large middle school program and six-figure-choral-ensemble-based-for-profit-business in central New Jersey. He is also the founder and sole member of the Hyphenation Club of America.Ryan enjoys getting lost outdoors with his beautiful fiancé, Amanda, and pitbull-lab Sasha. He also dislikes socks and only wears them when absolutely necessary. This bio was sponsored by Gold Bond Powder. Resources/links Mentioned: Ryan’s ICDA Keynote   Choirs Are Horrible, the World’s Best Choral Card Game   ***NEW*** Choir Emoji Posters! Get them for free!!! Choir Nation group on Facebook Email Patreon - Support the podcast!   Sponsored by: Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!)     My Music Folders (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for “last column” or best pricing - usually reserved for bulk purchases only!)    

TEACHERS: Share this episode with your choir! In our “winning is everything” culture, the goals of competition seem crystal clear: the medal, the role, the spot in the honor choir. Sometimes when the competition is fierce, those rewards don’t seem worth the effort. But there are rewards inherent in the audition process, and they are enduring. Competition is one of the most effective ways to become better at your art, and it deserves a place in your curriculum. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet:         “Winning is important. But I want to put it into perspective.” - Ryan Guth “No one has ever regretted the effort to become a better musician.” - Ryan Guth “You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” - Wayne Gretzky Show Notes: Competition should have a place in your curriculum. Performance is important, but it’s not everything a musician needs to know. Some lessons are taught better by competition. But there are lots of ways to compete Region/Area/State Auditions Solo and Ensemble contest Auditions for solos in school performance Auditions for parts in school musical School talent show What competition teaches How to practice effectively How to budget your time for long term goals How to persevere, even when the music isn’t fun How to focus in the midst of distractions How to perform under pressure How to win How to lose How to prepare for the next audition What do you say to your students who win? What do you say to your students who lose? What you actually win when you win: the spot in the choir, the medal, the rating What you actually win even when you lose: Everything you gained in your preparation, you keep. Every bit of technique you perfected, you keep. Every step forward into greater musical maturity and expression, you keep. Every note of expanded range, you keep. Every extra second of breath you gained, you keep. Every nuanced understanding of lyrics or poetry, you keep. Everything you learned about the composer or the music’s historical context, you keep. Every bit of dynamic variation you mastered, you keep. Every bit of confidence and poise you earned, you keep. Bio: Having spent most of his middle and high school career in detention, Ryan Guth loves to speak to audiences about ways for choral directors to engage the seemingly un-engageable. Ryan learned fearlessness and indomitable spirit from a young age through many years studying the martial arts while also pursuing music – especially the time in middle school when he tried to break a board with his head in front his entire ninth grade class and failed spectacularly. He believes the best choir directors face challenges head-on (no pun intended), are solutions-oriented, and take full responsibility forall aspects of their program.  Ryan’s most popular and surprisingly positive article “Your Choir Sucks Because You Suck” was shared over 2,200 times in 48 hours, and has since become his manifesto, mantra, and the platform that his work was built upon. Through his first podcast, Find Your Forte, Ryan connected thousands of weekly listeners with some of the most brilliant minds in choral music such as Helmuth Rilling, Patrick Quigley, Joseph Flummerfelt, James Bass, and 80-plus others. He recognizes the fact we become the best when we learn from the best. Ryan Guth recently created the Choir Ninja podcast to share solutions with middle and high school choral directors so they learn to work smarter – not harder. That’s why he focuses on sharing what works in choral programs across Choir Nation in a way that makes running a great choral program approachable, fun, and rewarding. When not dressing up in his ninja jammies or buffing his diploma from Westminster Choir College, Ryan is a financial advisor in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Before that, he spent a decade building a large middle school program and six-figure-choral-ensemble-based-for-profit-business in central New Jersey. He is also the founder and sole member of the Hyphenation Club of America. Ryan enjoys getting lost outdoors with his beautiful fiancé, Amanda, and pitbull-lab Sasha. He also dislikes socks and only wears them when absolutely necessary. This bio was sponsored by Gold Bond Powder. Resources/links Mentioned: Choirs Are Horrible, the World’s Best Choral Card Game Kintsugi ***NEW*** Choir Emoji Posters! Get them for free!!! Choir Nation group on Facebook Email Patreon - Support the podcast! Sponsored by: Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!) My Music Folders (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for “last column” or best pricing - usually reserved for bulk purchases only!)

Nightmare fuel. I don’t have any other words to describe this choral horror experience, shared by Shane Thomas, Jr. Like all the best Halloween stories, it’s equal parts trauma and comedy. So if you are feeling brave, dear Director, go ahead and listen to the scariest story shared in Choir Nation. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet:         “I have over 500 people sitting in my auditorium. I can’t turn around and say, ‘See you later.’” - Shane Thomas, Jr. Bio: Shane Thomas is in his fourth year as director of choral activities at Martin County High School in Stuart, FL. Choirs under his direction have consistently earned the highest ratings at District, State, and National music performance assessments. Over the last three years, his ensembles have been named “Choir of Distinction” by the Florida Vocal Association State Music Performance Assessment. In the fall of 2016, the OPUS Chorale was invited to perform for the Florida ACDA state conference. He is active as the FVA District 13 chairmen and Secretary for the Florida ACDA. Thomas received his bachelors of music education from Stetson University and Masters of Music in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College. Resources/links Mentioned: Martin County High School NEW Choir Emoji Posters! Get them for free!!! Choir Nation group on Facebook Email Patreon - Support the podcast! Sponsored by: Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!) My Music Folders (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for “last column” or best pricing - usually reserved for bulk purchases only!)

You probably never studied graphic design, but your audience still deserves a concert program that doesn’t look like a church bulletin from 1998. If the economic and ecologic costs of paper programs have you concerned, Ryan is here to teach you how to go digital. He will lay out the advantages of digital programs, address some of the disadvantages, and walk you through the process of creating them step by step. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet:         “Before you get up in arms about devices at your concert, let’s weigh the options.” - Ryan Guth Show Notes: Physical paper programs (traditional) It is the piece of your concert your audience takes home with them Use canva.com for design assistance to make your programs beautiful and professional looking Physical programs (non-traditional) Incorporate something that represents your theme Creates a distinctive keepsake Think creatively - printing on items like balloons or fans may be cheaper than a glossy traditional paper program Digital or virtual programs - viewed on your personal digital device Advantages Save paper Save money Save space in the landfill Can be viewed in full color Zoom feature important for visually impaired Content is “clickable” - great for promoting your social media channels or your GoFundMe page or a link to the site for parents to pay for the choir trip link to a virtual ad to businesses that want to support you survey email list subscription concert evaluation Disadvantages Being on their devices could be a distraction during the concert Encourage your audience to keep phone muted and the screen dimmed Access Digital programs are accessed through a url (not a QR code. Come on, man.) Tinyurl.com Create program on Canva.com; add your active links; download as a pdf; upload to google drive; find the “view” url; make a custom “slug” at tinyurl.com Project the program url on the wall Bio: Having spent most of his middle and high school career in detention, Ryan Guth loves to speak to audiences about ways for choral directors to engage the seemingly un-engageable. Ryan learned fearlessness and indomitable spirit from a young age through many years studying the martial arts while also pursuing music – especially the time in middle school when he tried to break a board with his head in front his entire ninth grade class and failed spectacularly. He believes the best choir directors face challenges head-on (no pun intended), are solutions-oriented, and take full responsibility forall aspects of their program.  Ryan’s most popular and surprisingly positive article “Your Choir Sucks Because You Suck” was shared over 2,200 times in 48 hours, and has since become his manifesto, mantra, and the platform that his work was built upon. Through his first podcast, Find Your Forte, Ryan connected thousands of weekly listeners with some of the most brilliant minds in choral music such as Helmuth Rilling, Patrick Quigley, Joseph Flummerfelt, James Bass, and 80-plus others. He recognizes the fact we become the best when we learn from the best. Ryan Guth recently created the Choir Ninja podcast to share solutions with middle and high school choral directors so they learn to work smarter – not harder. That’s why he focuses on sharing what works in choral programs across Choir Nation in a way that makes running a great choral program approachable, fun, and rewarding. When not dressing up in his ninja jammies or buffing his diploma from Westminster Choir College, Ryan is a financial advisor in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Before that, he spent a decade building a large middle school program and six-figure-choral-ensemble-based-for-profit-business in central New Jersey. He is also the founder and sole member of the Hyphenation Club of America. Ryan enjoys getting lost outdoors with his beautiful fiancé, Amanda, and pitbull-lab Sasha. He also dislikes socks and only wears them when absolutely necessary. This bio was sponsored by Gold Bond Powder. Resources/links Mentioned: Canva webinar Tinyurl.com Sample digital program here: tinyurl.com/theworkofxmas QR Codes Kill Kittens, by Alison Kramer and Scott Stratten NEW Choir Emoji Posters! Choir Nation group on Facebook Email Patreon - Support the podcast! Sponsored by: Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!) My Music Folders (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for “last column” or best pricing - usually reserved for bulk purchases only!)

As choir directors, we train hard to be able to help our singers and students. But whether you studied Music Ed or Sacred Music, it’s unlikely that financial literacy was part of your program. Today Ryan outlines how to read your credit report, and gives some simple tips for strengthening your credit score. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet:  “Nobody’s going to spend crazy on the gas, because then it starts overflowing and catches fire.” Show Notes: Why should you care about your credit score? Other important people will care about your credit score: mortgages, insurance companies, auto loans, furniture stores, your future employers Your piece of mind It helps you set quantifiable goals Identity fraud: who else is using your social security number? Catch errors on your report Try Creditkarma.com, a free web service Transunion Equifax Dave Ramsey’s podcast What’s important to look for: Credit card use: keep it under 30% Payment history: 100% Derogatory remarks No credit history? Establish one with something easy to pay off, like gas. Derogatory comments? Call them. See if you can get it removed. Often they are willing to work with you. Request a credit limit increase. Don’t use it; but having it available improves your credit use percentage. Bio: Having spent most of his middle and high school career in detention, Ryan Guth loves to speak to audiences about ways for choral directors to engage the seemingly un-engageable. Ryan learned fearlessness and indomitable spirit from a young age through many years studying the martial arts while also pursuing music – especially the time in middle school when he tried to break a board with his head in front his entire ninth grade class and failed spectacularly. He believes the best choir directors face challenges head-on (no pun intended), are solutions-oriented, and take full responsibility forall aspects of their program.  Ryan’s most popular and surprisingly positive article “Your Choir Sucks Because You Suck” was shared over 2,200 times in 48 hours, and has since become his manifesto, mantra, and the platform that his work was built upon. Through his first podcast, Find Your Forte, Ryan connected thousands of weekly listeners with some of the most brilliant minds in choral music such as Helmuth Rilling, Patrick Quigley, Joseph Flummerfelt, James Bass, and 80-plus others. He recognizes the fact we become the best when we learn from the best. Ryan Guth recently created the Choir Ninja podcast to share solutions with middle and high school choral directors so they learn to work smarter – not harder. That’s why he focuses on sharing what works in choral programs across Choir Nation in a way that makes running a great choral program approachable, fun, and rewarding. When not dressing up in his ninja jammies or buffing his diploma from Westminster Choir College, Ryan is a high school choir director in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Before that, he spent a decade building a large middle school program and six-figure-choral-ensemble-based-for-profit-business in central New Jersey. He is also the founder and sole member of the Hyphenation Club of America. Ryan enjoys getting lost outdoors with his beautiful fiancé, Amanda, and pitbull-lab Sasha. He also dislikes socks and only wears them when absolutely necessary. This bio was sponsored by Gold Bond Powder. Resources/links Mentioned: www.creditkarma.com Dave Ramsey Choir Nation group on Facebook Email Patreon - Support the podcast! Sponsored by: Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!) My Music Folders (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for “last column” or best pricing - usually reserved for bulk purchases only!)

Achieving Mastery, with Ryan Guth and Stevie Berryman Ryan and Stevie discuss ways choir directors can increase their grit and become masters in their field. Citing Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth, they discuss what separates people who want to the be the best in their field from those who actually are. You’ll learn the 4 steps for deliberate practice that will help you progress rather than just put in time. Listen: Highlight to Tweet:         “Talent counts. But effort counts twice” - Angela Duckworth “The work comes first.” - @steviebetweetin Show Notes: The people who succeed in music, or any endeavour, are the ones who are willing to do the work. Work sometimes involves risk. It rarely involves art. But the ones who work will succeed. Angela Duckworth defines GRIT as: sustained passion and perseverance for especially long term goals. It is the hallmark for high-achievers in every human domain. Even if you were born with talent, you weren’t born an expert. Expertise takes skill over time. Talent x effort = skill Skill x effort (over time) = achievement To increase your skill, you must put in deliberate practice. Set a Stretch Goal -- Focus 100% -- Get Feedback --Reflect and Refine The Choir Nation Facebook group is a great resource for getting feedback! Time to set your stretch goal! Look for an accountability partner in the Choir Nation Facebook group! Bio: Having spent most of his middle and high school career in detention, Ryan Guth loves to speak to audiences about ways for choral directors to engage the seemingly un-engageable. Ryan learned fearlessness and indomitable spirit from a young age through many years studying the martial arts while also pursuing music – especially the time in middle school when he tried to break a board with his head in front his entire ninth grade class and failed spectacularly. He believes the best choir directors face challenges head-on (no pun intended), are solutions-oriented, and take full responsibility forall aspects of their program.  Ryan’s most popular and surprisingly positive article “Your Choir Sucks Because You Suck” was shared over 2,200 times in 48 hours, and has since become his manifesto, mantra, and the platform that his work was built upon. Through his first podcast, Find Your Forte, Ryan connected thousands of weekly listeners with some of the most brilliant minds in choral music such as Helmuth Rilling, Patrick Quigley, Joseph Flummerfelt, James Bass, and 80-plus others. He recognizes the fact we become the best when we learn from the best. Ryan Guth recently created the Choir Ninja podcast to share solutions with middle and high school choral directors so they learn to work smarter – not harder. That’s why he focuses on sharing what works in choral programs across Choir Nation in a way that makes running a great choral program approachable, fun, and rewarding. When not dressing up in his ninja jammies or buffing his diploma from Westminster Choir College, Ryan is a high school choir director in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Before that, he spent a decade building a large middle school program and six-figure-choral-ensemble-based-for-profit-business in central New Jersey. He is also the founder and sole member of the Hyphenation Club of America. Ryan enjoys getting lost outdoors with his beautiful fiancé, Amanda, and pitbull-lab Sasha. He also dislikes socks and only wears them when absolutely necessary. This bio was sponsored by Gold Bond Powder. Stevie Berryman is shockingly good at video games. She can fold a fitted sheet so it looks like it came right out of the package. Likewise, her skills as music director and teacher have also been acquired through long hours of arduous and dedicated practice. For much of her career Stevie has directed seven or more ensembles each week, meaning she has 98 years of experience (in dog years). Her effusive energy and wild creativity found a perfect setting in 2013 when she became the Artistic Director of the Houston Chamber Ringers, which has let her smash together her love for music, laughter, and tacos in a truly remarkable way. She has a particular passion for teaching children how to ring, and her innovative methods have made her a sought after educator at area and national handbell festivals. Stevie loves helping other choirs as a private clinician, or planning epic concerts for them as a creative consultant. Her next step in global domination is to take over the choral world, which is a side bonus of her job as Chief Awesomeness Officer at the Choir Ninja Podcast. Resources/links Mentioned: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth Angela Duckworth’s TED Talk Planet Money Will Smith will not be outworked Stevie’s blog Choir Nation group on Facebook Email Patreon - Support the podcast! Sponsored by: Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!) My Music Folders (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for “last column” or best pricing - usually reserved for bulk purchases only!)

Welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast #111! http://www.organduo.lt/podcast Today's guest is an American organist and harpsichordist Dr. Kathleen Scheide who has concertized as a harpsichord and organ soloist throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Russia, the Far East and Caribbean. She has received touring artist grants from the Arkansas Arts Council, California Arts Council, the American Embassies in Prague and Vienna, and the Czech Embassy in St. Petersburg. Dr. Scheide regularly performs chamber music with Le Meslange des Plaisirs and Voix seraphique on historic string keyboard instruments; and as Due Solisti (flute/organ) with Czech flutist Zofie Volalkova. Scheide earned degrees in early music (with honors) and organ performance (organ department prize) at New England Conservatory and the University of Southern California. Her teachers have included John Gibbons and Cherry Rhodes. She teaches harpsichord at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Princeton, and teaches online and sometimes traditional classes for Rowan College at Burlington. She lives in a 17th-century stone house Wiggan, and plays organ in the 1740 stone barn at Church of the Loving Shepherd, Bournelyf, West Chester. A Founding Member of various early keyboard societies, Dr. Scheide was recently elected to a second term on the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Philadelphia Chapter., American Guild of Organists. She is also a Past Dean of the San Diego Chapter. Dr. Scheide is also a published composer with a significant discography. Her compositions have been made available through Darcey Press, E.C. Schirmer, Piano Press, Time Warner, Wayne Leupold and World Library. Current commissions include a piece for the 10th Anniversary of the Kimmel Center Organ. Her recordings are available on Dutch HLM, Organ Historical Society, Palatine and Raven labels. In this conversation, Dr. Scheide shares her insights about her fascination with the Nasard stop, Olivier Messiaen's cycle "L'Ascencion", "Labyrinth" by the Czeck composer Petr Eben, and her collaboration initiatives with chamber music. At the end she gives her 3 steps in becoming a better organist so make sure you listen to the very end. Enjoy and share your comments below. ​And don't forget to help spread the word about the SOP Podcast by sharing it with your organist friends. And if you like it, please head over to iTunes and leave a rating and review. This helps to get this podcast in front of more organists who would find it helpful. Thanks for caring. Listen to the conversation Related Link: http://kathleenscheide.com

Drawing on lessons learned while losing at pool, Ryan shares what it means to have an entrepreneurial mindset as a  choir director. You will hear strategies about how to win at pool, how to lose at pool, and how to embarrassingly injure a friend during pool (with a step by step guide in the show notes). You will also hear why it is so important that we mindfully choose which kind of game we are going to play, which entrepreneurial super-skills you already posses, and how to avoid the traps that prevent you from being the real thing. Listen: Highlight to Tweet: “If your win is a standing ovation, you need a bigger win” - Ryan Guth Show Notes: You are already functioning as an entrepreneur in 2 WAYS: Through Task: Recruitment = Sales Market concerts Concert Programs = Graphic Design Press releases = PR Concerts = Event planning Working one-on-one with a student who’s more invested than the others = Coaching Talking to parents = Counseling/Negotiation Sending detailed emails so your students do what you need them to do = Copywriting Making resources for students like practice tracks = content marketing Updating your “teacher page” = web design Creating and upholding the rules in your choir handbook = Contracts Making an itinerary for your choir’s trip to Disney World = Travel planning Budgeting = Budgeting Picking the uniforms = fashion design Problem solver Through thought: Knows his/her own “why” Stands for something Abundance-minded Proactive Solutions-oriented Focused on personal growth and learning. Self-aware Places the greatest value on helping others before themselves. Knows other people's “Why” Takes ego out of the equation Confident in his/her unique value proposition to the world. What’s holding you back from being great? Listening to haters and critics. It’s a long game, and a numbers game. You have to get through your “no’s.” “Good” concerts are part of the process. They aren’t all great. Worrying about things outside your control. Blaming others Comparing yourself to others Zero-sum mentality When you get close to success, imposter syndrome tries to shut you down. The biggest pitfall is sometimes the smallest one: small goals that produce small wins Construct a big “win”...not one based solely on applause, scores, or the admiration of others. Bio: Having spent most of his middle and high school career in detention, Ryan Guth loves to speak to audiences about ways for choral directors to engage the seemingly un-engageable. Ryan learned fearlessness and indomitable spirit from a young age through many years studying the martial arts while also pursuing music – especially the time in middle school when he tried to break a board with his head in front his entire ninth grade class and failed spectacularly. He believes the best choir directors face challenges head-on (no pun intended), are solutions-oriented, and take full responsibility forall aspects of their program.  Ryan’s most popular and surprisingly positive article “Your Choir Sucks Because You Suck” was shared over 2,200 times in 48 hours, and has since become his manifesto, mantra, and the platform that his work was built upon. Through his first podcast, Find Your Forte, Ryan connected thousands of weekly listeners with some of the most brilliant minds in choral music such as Helmuth Rilling, Patrick Quigley, Joseph Flummerfelt, James Bass, and 80-plus others. He recognizes the fact we become the best when we learn from the best. Ryan Guth recently created the Choir Ninja podcast to share solutions with middle and high school choral directors so they learn to work smarter – not harder. That’s why he focuses on sharing what works in choral programs across Choir Nation in a way that makes running a great choral program approachable, fun, and rewarding. When not dressing up in his ninja jammies or buffing his diploma from Westminster Choir College, Ryan is a high school choir director in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Before that, he spent a decade building a large middle school program and six-figure-choral-ensemble-based-for-profit-business in central New Jersey. He is also the founder and sole member of the Hyphenation Club of America. Ryan will be the keynote speaker at the Iowa Choral Directors Association Annual Summer Symposium, a presenter at the Chorus America Convention in the Summer of 2017, and a guest speaker at various other conferences and workshops throughout the year. Ryan enjoys getting lost outdoors with his beautiful fiancé, Amanda, and pitbull-lab Sasha. He also dislikes socks and only wears them when absolutely necessary. This bio was sponsored by Gold Bond Powder. Resources/links Mentioned: Choir Nation group on Facebook Email Patreon - Support the podcast! Instructions for setting up a nut-shot in a game of pool: 1. Tell the unsuspecting victim you know a cool trickshot, but that you’ll need him to be your assistant. 2. Place the quarter about 8 inches from the end of the table, right down the center line. 3. Have your victim position himself behind  the quarter. 4.  Hand him the two balls and, whilst patting him on the back, tell him “Now you have 4!” 5. Ask the victim to place one ball at each of the corner pockets, hanging over the edge, just about to fall in. 6. Direct your victim to place his pointer fingers on each ball to prevent them from accidentally falling into the pocket. 7. He will need to brace himself, so remind him to take a step back and balance on both feet. 8. Now, walk to the other end of the table, and explain that through magic and complex feats of 9th grade geometry, in one shot, you will hit the two balls into each pocket. ;) 9. Place the cue ball on the dot, aim for the quarter, and… if you hit the quarter just right… it’ll jump off the table directly into the victim’s unsuspecting “huevos rancheros”. 10.  Lastly, point at your victim and have a good laugh at his expense. Sponsored by: Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!) My Music Folders (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for “last column” or best pricing - usually reserved for bulk purchases only!)

Welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast #98! http://www.organduo.lt/podcast Today's guest is an American organist Edward Landin who began his intensive musical training at the St. Thomas Choir School under the direction of Gerre Hancock. Upon his graduation from St. Thomas, he entered Interlochen Arts Academy where he began his organ studies as a student of Thomas Bara. After high school, he attended the Eastman School of Music for two years; he then transferred to Westminster Choir College where he completed his BM in organ performance as a student of Ken Cowan. While at Westminster, he also studied harpsichord with Kathleen Scheide. Further organ studies and coachings have been with Roberta Gary, David Higgs, Susan Landale, Marie-Louise Langlais, Kimberly Marshall, Paula Pugh Romanaux, Kathleen Scheide, and Carole Terry. Edward has been recently appointed Sub Dean of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Currently Assistant Director of Music at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, his duties include directing numerous children's and handbell choirs and serving as principal accompanist for the 65-member Sanctuary Choir. Edward has previously held positions in New York City (Christ Church, Methodist), Morristown, NJ (St. Peter's Episcopal Church) and in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia (Grace Epiphany Episcopal Church). In addition to recitals at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine and St. Thomas Church in New York City, and Old West Church, Boston, he has also performed in Germany and Wales as well as on the historic 18th century Andreas Silbermann organ in Strasbourg, France. Edward's achievements as a church musician and performer were most recently recognized when he was named as a member of the “Class of 2017” by The Diapason magazine's program, “20 under 30,” which lifts up young professionals in the world of organ, harpsichord, carillon, and church music. ​A major interest in contemporary organ music, particularly by American composers, led Edward to commission "E," "Fantasia," and "Parodies" by Kathleen Scheide; "Praeludium" and “Psalm 139” by Pamela Decker; "Prelude on the Carillon d'Alet" by Craig Phillips, and "Exordium" by Carson Cooman. A composer himself, “Flourishes and Reflections – Organ Music for Service or Recital” was recently released by Lorenz. ​ In this conversation, Edward and I talk about his organist career and about his graceful strategy of dedicating his own compositions to other organists and composers. Enjoy and share your comments below. ​And don't forget to help spread the word about the SOP Podcast by sharing it with your organist friends. Thanks for caring. ​ Related link: http://www.edwardlandin.com ​ PS If you want to achieve your organ related goals faster than you would be on your own, I invite you to try out my Total Organist membership program for free for 30 days: http://www.organduo.lt/total-organist

Today we talk with Concert Organist and Professor Daryl Robinson. He talks about being a concert organist, Westminster Choir College, and announces some new appointments. Music heard in this episode All works performed by Daryl Robinson Pierre Cochereau Scherzo Symphonique Sempre Organo – Pro Organo CD 7261 1997 III/83 Fisk-Rosales, Rice University, Bates Concert Hall,...

Dr. Amanda Quist takes us through a typical warm-up for the Westminster Choir College freshman choir. You’ll learn how, in just 5-7 minutes, she addresses the building blocks of great sound. Plus, you’ll take some fun detours into topics like cell phone policy and how to classify voices. Listen: Highlight to Tweet: “You need to have 3 ways to solve any problem” - Amanda Quist Show Notes: Amanda directs the (compulsory) freshman choir at WCC, so she is first director students meet. Her goal is to take a group of unfamiliar singers with widely-varying levels of experience and make a unison sound. Day 1: sing and build community (students see how they are connected); talk about music they love, their major, who they are; start with voice building - 5-7 minute warm up; next do something physical Low energy? Have them move...step-touches, or something fast-paced like a call and response. Buy in is tougher for the students without choir experience. Knowing the reason behind the exercises helps them buy in. No cell phone use in rehearsal, no tolerance. Breath - long exhalations on different sounds; must warm up breath, it’s connected to mindfulness Tone - balance between light and dark (chiaroscuro) Intonation - clear and resonant, with clear overtones; begin building triads; build their ears with solfege scales, scales in different modes Sight-reading is the most crucial skill for incoming freshmen to have. 3 Key Takeaways: Go into rehearsal with a plan, but be willing to change it when you assess the energy level of the students. The fundamentals are crucial and should be practiced every rehearsal: voice-building, breath, tone, intonation. The most valuable skill a high school director can give their students is the ability to sight-read. Resources/links Mentioned: Episode 7: Your Students are Worth the Investment, with Dr. Amanda Quist Bio: Dr. Amanda Quist is Associate Professor of Conducting at Westminster Choir College, where she conducts the Chapel Choir, Westminster Kantorei, and teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting. Kantorei was selected to perform at the Eastern Division ACDA Conference in February 2014 for her “Building Sound” workshop, was invited to sing at the American Handel Festival the previous year, and was selected as a National Finalist for the American Prize. During her work with the Westminster Symphonic Choir she collaborated with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Dresden Staatskapelle, and composers Ola Gjeilo and Tarik O’Regan. Dr. Quist recently served as Chorus Master for the North American premiere of Toshio Hosokawa’s Matsukaze for Spoleto Festival USA and the Lincoln Center Festival. The New York Times and Charleston Post and Courier reviews described the chorus’ performance as “beautifully prepared,” “gripping,” with a “gossamer web of voices,” and “bridging the vocal and instrumental textures with perfect intonation.” Dr. Quist is Director of the Westminster Vocal Institute, and she was previously Director of Choral Activities at San José State University. She was selected to be the 2014 recipient of Westminster of Rider University’s Distinguished Teaching Award, and other honors include the prestigious James Mulholland National Choral Fellowship and the Audrey Davidson Early Music Award. Her research focus is voice science and pedagogy in the choral setting, and she recently presented an Interest Session for the National ACDA Conference in Salt Lake City. An active adjudicator and clinician, recent and upcoming appearances include the California All-State, Texas All-State, Delaware All-State, Tennessee All-State, and Vermont All-State honor choirs. She has also conducted honor choirs and served as an adjudicator in Arizona, Michigan, New York, Arkansas, Georgia, and New Jersey. She recently served as the Pennsylvania ACDA Summer Conference headliner, and as summer conducting faculty for Connecticut State University. An active mezzo-soprano, recent solo engagements include performances with the Monmouth Civic Chorus and Orchestra, Symphony Silicon Valley, Fuma Sacra, Princeton Pro Musica, and Princeton University. Dr. Quist serves as the National ACDA R&S Chair for Youth and Student Activities and ACDA Mentorship Co-Chair. Sponsored by: Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!) My Music Folders (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for best pricing - usually reserved for bulk purchases only!)

Alan Morrison is recognized as one of America's premier concert organists, performing in prestigious concert organ venues across the United States and in Canada, as well as in international festivals. Alan is currently the head of the organ department at The Curtis Institute of Music, and is a faculty member of Westminster Choir College and College Organist at Ursinus College. I had the good fortune of attending The Curtis Institute of Music at the same time as Alan Morrison, who in reality is a triple threat as an organist, collaborative pianist, and harpsichordist. Alan was a close friend of Fred Rogers, and even appeared on a few episodes of “Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood” back in 1994. If you don't know anything about the organ, you're in for a real treat with this interview, as Alan helps us unpack what all those thousands of buttons and switches do and all the components that make the organ the true “king of instruments”.  Links Alan's website: http://www.alanmorrison.us/  

Tony Maglione of William Jewell College stops in to share his thoughts on building a culture of trust with your choir. Listen   Bio Conductor/Composer Anthony J. Maglione is a graduate of Westminster Choir College of Rider University, East Carolina University, and the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the Director of Choral Studies at William Jewell College where, under his direction, the Concert Choir was Runner Up (2nd Place) for the 2015 American Prize in Choral Performance, College/University Division. In addition to his responsibilities at William Jewell College, he serves as Director of the Greater Kansas City AGO Schola Cantorum, Conductor Emeritus of the Freelance Ensemble Artists of NJ, a symphony orchestra based in Central NJ and recently was appointed the Michael and Ginger Frost “Artist-in-Residence” at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City. An active composer, Anthony’s choral works are growing in popularity and are published on GIA’s “Evoking Sound” choral series. In the last several years his music has appeared at state and national-level conventions, on TV, in video games, and has been recorded on Gothic Records and Centaur Records. In 2014 and 2015, Anthony was honored as a Semi- Finalist and Finalist (respectively) for the American Prize in Composition, Professional Choral Division and was recently awarded the 2016-2017 William Jewell College Spencer Family Sabbatical, a year-long fully funded sabbatical in order to compose two new large-scale works for choir, soloists and chamber orchestra. Anthony has also been commissioned by the American Guild of Organists for a new work to premiere at the AGO National Conference to be held in Kansas City in 2018. Anthony has made numerous guest conducting/clinician appearances and has prepared ensembles for such esteemed conductors as James Conlon, James Jordan, David Newman, Donald Neuen, and Alex Treger. Ensembles under his leadership have performed nationally and internationally at renowned concert venues including Disney Hall in Los Angeles and Carnegie Hall in New York City. Links William Jewell Music Tony’s Facebook Tony’s Twitter Support the show on