Latest Blog Posts

This was a remarkably invigorating, inspiring, and humbling conversation with Dr. Ahmed Anzaldúa, Founder and Artistic Director of Border CrosSing, and Director of Music Ministries at Unity Church in St. Paul, a congregation with a robust music program including four adult choirs, children’s choir, and an annual musical.   In the initial months of COVID, […]

  “The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.” Steve Jobs What happens when we prepare to start a new job? We do the research, find ways to build trust […]

The October issue of Choral Journal is online and features an article titled “Remember You: Mental Health in a Life Dedicated to Choral Music” by Stephanie and Troy Robertson. You can read it in its entirety at acda.org/choraljournal. Following is a portion from the introduction. _________________ For many choral musicians, our profession is our primary identity. Our mental […]

I believe rounds can be a valuable part of all choral programs. While there are many rounds I’ve used over the years, there are 5 rounds that I use with my high school choir every year. This blog post shares these 5 rounds and WHY I believe they are so beneficial to my students. Here are: The 5 “ROUNDS” I […]

Panel discussion featuring three insightful Professors In this week’s special panel conversation, I am finally responding to what has been a frequent listener suggestion for a podcast topic. A “no BS” discussion on the Choral Grad School decision that weighs so heavily on many of us, sometimes more than once in our careers. So, I […]

“Unless a tree has borne blossoms in spring, you will vainly look for fruit on it in autumn.” Walter Scott  Denise* contacted me in August with a strange story, but one I’ve heard before. We’ve gone back and forth, but now I’d like to ask your opinion. Her dilemma/question is this—should she re-interview/re-audition for a […]

#73, “Ave Maria” by B. E. Boykin
SSAA, a cappella

I wrote about a different work by composer Brittney Boykin in December 2020, and have been interested in her work ever since. I have recently been perusing her catalog for multi-part a cappella rep, and her Ave Maria caught my attention.

I live in Jacksonville, FL and frequently I go to the beach. Labor Day weekend had some beautiful and perfect beach weather. However, on one particular day, the waves were too rough to swim. So I sat and watched the ocean, read, and at times stood ankle deep in the water. Since I live 25 […]

The September issue of Choral Journal is online and features an article titled “Who’s a Good Director? Dog-Training Strategies for Better Rehearsing” by Eliza Rubenstein. You can read it in its entirety at acda.org/choraljournal. Following is a portion from the introduction. ____________________ “Your goal for yourself and your students,” a veteran of my profession once said to me, “is […]

This special episode is something a bit different, in that it is a recap of a shared experience. All the way back on Episode 17, Marques Garrett challenged me to intentionally find an opportunity to be an “only” in the room. I had reflected in that conversation that, as a white guy, I don’t think I’ve […]