Podcast: Interviews with Choir Leaders
What makes a successful choir leader tick? Join time-travelling choir handyman Dan Bennett as he interviews fellow choir leaders to find out.
Listen to hear from a diverse ensemble of successful choir leaders from all across the colourful musical landscape - choir leaders’ origin stories, loves and hates, favourite methods, key resources and secrets to success!
If you’re looking for ways to take your choir to the next level, do things differently, or just learn from our amazing community - you’ll definitely find something with guests such as Drew Wheaton, Phia Exiner, Annie Kwok, Dan Walker, Olivia Swift and so many more!
Do you know someone who you think should be on the podcast? Contact Dan and let him know!
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Listen to the pocast on Spotify, SoundCloud or YouTube and check out my other social links!
#14 Jonathan Albertini
Jonathan Albertini is the founder and director of Cornerstone Chorus, and the director of The Blenders chorus.
Jono has been one of the driving forces behind barbershop harmony and a cappella on the Gold Coast of Australia for many years. I talked with him about how he got started, how he founded a competitive chorus for young men, and which choir leaders he admires.
Expect to learn:
How Cornerstone Chorus develops engaging visual performance plans
Jono's method for making sure all singers learn the correct notes
Why a choir leader should improve their conducting gesture before asking the choir to change
Why it's crucial for choir leaders to identify the special skills in their singers
Where is the best place to go to upskill as a choir leader
Who are the Two Jonos and how they work together
And much more...
Listen on Spotify
Watch on YouTube
#13 Astrid Jorgensen
Astrid Jorgensen is the founder and conductor of Pub Choir.
"With a show that is equal parts music, comedy, and beer, Pub Choir is a euphoric sensation that transforms a crowd of tipsy strangers into a legendary choir." (From the Pub Choir website)
Astrid is the ringleader of these events, and I sat down with her to find out how she does it. Choir leaders of all types will have something to learn from the success of Pub Choir.
Expect to learn:
How Astrid selects and arranges songs for regular crowds of 1000+ singers
Why large and small groups need to be rehearsed differently
What to do when the singers don't sing the notes you taught them
What to do at the start each rehearsal to get everyone feeling focused and present
Why it's important that EVERYONE is given the chance to make music - not just the professionals
And much more...
Listen on Spotify
Watch on YouTube
#12 John Rotar
John Rotar is Conductor and Artistic Director of The Australian Voices.
Described by Limelight as a ‘talented and innovative composer’, John is a prolific composer and has had over 115 works performed by many leading arts organisations across Australia, Europe and North America.
Aside from his conducting and composing work, John is also an active performer as a trombonist, bass singer, organist, and piano accompanist and he holds the organist chair at the historic All Saints Church in the CBD of Brisbane.
Expect to learn:
John's focused listening exercize for improving choir balance, blend and awareness
What John needs to do every day to feel like he has "completed a successful day of living"
If John had a time machine, what advice would he give to his younger self? Or would he rather go back and see some dinosaurs?
Which choir John describes as "loud, fast and wild"
Why it's crucial for the choir leader to have a clear vision of the end product
Whether it's possible to compose music with 2 collapsed lungs
And much more...
Listen on Spotify
Watch on YouTube
#11 Dan Walker
Canberra-based composer, conductor and performer Dan Walker is one of Australia’s most in-demand choral specialists. His compositional and arranging output is extensive; among this body of work is the iconic arrangement of I Still Call Australia Home featured in the 2009 QANTAS television ad campaign.
Expect to learn:
Why audiences go berserk for video game music
Which one of Dan's mentors was named '2006 musician of the year' by the Sydney Morning Herald
Whether or not you should sing while you conduct your choir
Why a conductor should always act confident in front of their choir
Why it's more important for rehearsals to be enjoyable than performances
Why it's exciting but also frustrating when a choir sings one of your own compositions
And much more...
Spotify
SoundCloud
YouTube
#10 Annie Kwok
Annie Kwok is the Assistant Head of Performing Arts at Pulteney Grammar School in Adelaide. She's a classroom music teacher, an award-winning composer, a colourful character, and of course, a choir leader.
Expect to learn:
What it’s like to be a LIVING composer (as opposed to a dead one)
Who has “the attention span of an amoeba”
How sol fa helps with key changes
What it means to be a “sympathetic singer”
How to use the audition to get to know your singers, not just to pick your team
How important it is for singers (even adults!) to feel noticed by their choir conductor
Why it’s important to know what your choristers want, how to make opportunities for that in rehearsals
What we learned from the Hungarians at the James Cuskelly Summer School
How Annie gets choral “X-ray vision” and what it takes to unlock this power
How “evolved” your choristers are, and whether their evolution has stopped…
What makes Australian choirs different
And much more...
#9 Phia Exiner
Phia Exiner is the founder and Artistic Director of Melbourne Indie Voices (MIV). She's also a performer, singer-songwriter and recording artist.
Expect to learn: the advertising tool that helped MIV grow to 400+ singers; why MIV doesn’t do auditions; if it is selfish for choir leaders to choose only songs they love; if we should teach by ear before introducing the sheet music; why simple is better - what we could all learn from the arrangements of Choir! Choir! Choir!; a great lesson from Mary Poppins for running a good choir rehearsal; and the benefits of showing your vulnerability to your singers.
#8 Vicki Dwyer
Vicki Dwyer is the director of Sydney Harmony mens barbershop Chorus and Circular Keys womens barbershop chorus.
Expect to learn about the strange audition process that Vicki underwent to join her first barbershop chorus, why the words often get in the way of good music, dos and don'ts when coaching vocal groups, Vicki's views on competition, why it hurts a choir leader when a singer leaves, and whether Dan can name all of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
#7 Olivia Swift
Olivia Swift is the Artistic Director of the Woden Valley Youth Choir and Kompactus Youth Choir.
Expect to learn the difference between conducting children and adults, the benefits of Spotify auto-play for choir leaders, the surprising kind of performance that is Olivia’s favourite, whether one or two hands is better for conducting, how best to annoy a choir leader and much more…
#6 Ewan Lawrie
In episode 6 of Interviews with Choir Leaders I talk with Ewan Lawrie, founder of the Canberra Shanty Club and self-proclaimed “hack choir leader”.
Expect to learn:
- How a love for impromptu singing in a stairwell led Ewan to form a group of his own
- How sea shanties spread via TikTok and took over the world
- What it’s like to attend (and lead) a shanty session
- The problem with reality TV singing shows
#5 Drew Wheaton
In episode 5 of Interviews with Choir Leaders I talk with Drew Wheaton, Canadian born choir leader and all-round barbershop legend.
Expect to learn:
- How Drew’s handyman skills led him to record a whole album with a top notch quartet
- How to rehearse like a legend: the step-by-step blueprint Drew used for each rehearsal of the Louisville Thoroughbreds – 7-time champions of the International Chorus Contest
- Is reckless singing ever the answer? How the Westminster Chorus champions used this approach to bring Drew and the audience to profound tears
- The simple trick to ensure your singers leave every rehearsal on a high
#4 Nick Schurmann
In episode 4 of Interviews with Choir Leaders I talk with Nick Schurmann, Perth-based choir leader. Nick shares invaluable education theories and practices that he uses with his ensembles including The Baden Street Singers. Nick is definitely a choir leader to watch!
#3 Ryan Nicholson
In episode 3 of Interviews with Choir Leaders I talk with Ryan Nicholson, Perth-based choir leader.
Ryan shares ideas about how to get men singing, how a "hard pivot" can turn a rehearsal around, and how he does his best work spontaneously, “in the moment”.
#2 Rachel Hore
In episode 2 I talk to Rachel Hore OAM, leader of Canberra's Pop-Up Choir and founder of Big Sing Inc.
Rachel shares insights on why the Pop-Up Choir was founded, how competitive the choirs in Fiji are, her time learning from Richard Gill at the Sydney Conservatorium, and how she uses Garage Band to arrange her songs.
#1 Alpha Gregory
In episode 1 I talk to Alpha Gregory, local Canberra legend and accomplished choir leader of numerous groups including the Woden Valley Youth Choir.