TXST Choirs Today!

About TXST Choirs Today!

The Texas State University School of Music annually hosts notable figures in choral music today. TXST Choirs Today! Dr. Jonathan Babcock of the Texas State Choral Faculty interviews our campus visitors on their music, their passion and their craft. Guests include conductors Craig Hella Johnson (Artistic Director, Conspirare), Z. Randall Stroope (Director of Choral Activities, Oklahoma State University) & Craig Jessop (conductor emeritus The Mormon Tabernacle Choir), as well as composers Gwyneth Walker and David Conte. Get one-on-one insite on rehearsal strategies, choral history and current trends from some of today's most insightful choral artists.

Publisher

Jonathan Babcock

Category

education · music · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Oct 2018

Latest episode

9 Jun 2023

Latest episodes

18 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Jun 2023

   Season 5, Episode 2 - Michael Barrett, University of Pretoria, South Africa

   Meet our 2024 TMEA All-State Conductor Michael Barrett on Texas State Choirs Today! Michael talks about the University of Pretoria Choir, including their travels, membership, and local events. We also discuss Dr. Barrett's activity as an arranger of South African folk music.

2. 

   8 Jun 2023

   Season 5, Episode 1 - Rosephanye Powell, Auburn University

   Composer, conductor and singer Rosephanye Powell talks about her life as an artist, an educator and performer. Featured recordings: Songs of Separation: If you should go William Grant Still Gospel Trinity - III. Holy Spirit, Come Rosephanye Powell; Rosephanye Powell, soloist To sit and dream Rosephanye Powell; California State University-Long Beach University Choir The Word Was God - Rosephanye Powell; Texas A&M-Commerce Chorale

3. 

   10 Feb 2022

   Season 4, Episode 2: Max Mendez, North Idaho College

   Prof. Max Mendez discusses his research on the Amusia disorder (tone deafness), and his use of Body Mapping as it relates to singing and the choral rehearsal.

4. 

   1 Nov 2021

   Season 4, Episode 1: Z. Randall Stroope, conductor & composer

   Composer/Conductor Z. Randall Stroope

5. 

   31 Mar 2021

   Season 3, Episode 3 Samir Savant, director of the Handel London Festival

   On April 5, the TXST Chorale will perform as part of the London Handel Festival virtual performance of Handel's most famous oratorio Messiah. In this episode we speak to Festival Director Samir Savant about the project.

6. 

   25 Feb 2021

   Season 3, Episode 2 - Dr. Deb Confredo, Temple University

   Recorded from the floor of the 2020 TMEA Convention, Temple University professor Dr. Deb Confredo speaks with Dr. Babcock about the future of music education including technology in the classroom and the new world of remote teaching.

7. 

   22 Oct 2020

   Season 3, Episode 1 - Dr. Craig Jessop, conductor

   TXST Choirs Today speaks with Maestro Craig Jessop from the Southwestern ACDA Convention in Little Rock Arkansas. Dr. Jessop discusses his time leading the Air Force Singing Sergeants, his work with Robert Shaw and his time as Director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

8. 

   24 Mar 2020

   Season 2, Episode 4 - Dawn Reinhuber & Brigitte Smith, Directors of the San Marcos HS Men's Choir

   The men of the San Marcos High School Men's Choir are our home town heros, having had given a stunning performance at this year's TMEA convention. The Choirs Directors Dawn Reinhuber and Brigitte Smith talk with us about their performance, their program and their community. All musical excerpts are from the San Marcos HS Men's Choir 2020 performance.

9. 

   13 Mar 2020

   Season 2, Episode 3 - Dr. Robert Horton, Past-President TMEA

   TMEA SPECIAL EDITION: Recorded from the floor of the TMEA 2020 Convention, Dr. Robert (Bob) Horton talks with us about the importance of service to our professional communities, and how TMEA helped shape his career. Dr. Horton is the Fine Arts Director for the Conroe, TX ISD, and currently serves as the Past-President of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA). He has held multiple leadership positions in both TMEA and TCDA. Prior to working in Conroe, For eleven years, Dr. Horton was the Head Choir Director at Woodlands High School, Texas. In 2011 and 2014, The Woodlands HS Chamber Choir won the American Classics Madrigal Festival and presented Honor Concerts in 2012 and 2015. The TWHS varsity treble choir, conducted by Bob and his assistant Lynn Bull, was also selected to perform at Southwest American Choral Directors Association in March 2014. All musical excerpts are of the Woodlands HS Varsity Treble Choir Performing at the 2013 TMEA Convention.

10. 

    20 Jan 2020

    Season 2, Episode 2 - Dr. Ralph Allwood, MBE former Precentor at Eton College,England. Music Director The Rodolfus Choir & Foundation

    Ralph Allwood, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_British_Empire (MBE) is a British conductor, who currently conducts the choir of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queens%27_College,_Cambridge (Queens' College, Cambridge).https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Allwood#cite_note-1 ([1]) He was previously the Precentor and Director of Music at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eton_College (Eton College) in the UK until September 2011, and set up many musical events, including the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eton_Choral_Courses (Eton Choral Courses) of which there are now seven a year.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Allwood#cite_note-2 ([2]) He previously headed the music departments at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangbourne (Pangbourne) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uppingham (Uppingham).https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Allwood#cite_note-3 ([3]) He also conducts the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodolfus_Choir (Rodolfus Choir), a critically acclaimed group of singers aged 16–25, drawn principally from the Eton Choral Courses. In this episode Ralph and I talk about his time at Eton as well as his work with at-risk youth in Pimlico, London. All musical excerpts are of the Rodolfus Choir under the direction of Ralph Alwood.

11. 

    20 Sept 2019

    Season 2, Episode 1 - James Cumings, Jackson Northwest Kidder Middle School, Michigan

    Mr. James Cumings has been teaching choral music since 1999 at Jackson Northwest Kidder Middle School.  During that time He has taken great pleasure in working with middle school singers--watching them grow both as musicians and young people who care about each other and their art.  During the summer he directs the 6-9 SSA choir at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.   Recently, James was honored by being selected MSVMA’s “Teacher of the Year” at the 2019 conference. In this episode I speak with both James Cumings and his wife Ashley about their unique partnership in the classroom, as well as tried and true methods for middle school teachers that have worked for them.

12. 

    28 May 2019

    Season 1, Episode 7 - Craig Hella Johnson, conductor & composer

    Artist-in-residence at Texas State University and Artistic Director of the Grammy Award winning ensemble Conspirare Craig Hella Johnson discusses his early education and experiences, his latest work "Considering Matthew Shepherd" and his new seminar entitled Sound Lab. Beloved by audiences, lauded by critics and composers, and revered by singers, Johnson is known for crafting musical journeys that create deep connections between performers and listeners. The Wall Street Journal praised his ability to “find the emotional essence other performers often miss,” and Fanfare wrote that “Craig Hella Johnson has assembled and molded a first-rate choir to be respected as highly as the best we have had.” Distinguished composer John Corigliano wrote, “I believe that [Johnson] has understood my music in a way that I have never experienced before. He is a great musician who understands everything about the music he conducts.” Johnson is also Music Director of the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble and conductor emeritus of the Victoria Bach Festival. He was Artistic Director of San Francisco-based Chanticleer (1998-1999) and has served as guest conductor with the Austin Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and many others in Texas, the U.S., and abroad.  Craig Hella Johnson joined the faculty at Texas State as Artist in Residence in fall 2016 and continues to inspire his colleagues and students in innovative teaching and programming as Professor of Practice.

13. 

    5 Apr 2019

    Season 1, Episode 6 - Gwyneth Walker, composer

    Renowned American composer Dr. Gwyneth Walker talks with Jonathan Babcock her career as a composer, plus much more! Gwyneth Walker is a graduate of Brown University and the Hartt School of Music. A former faculty member of the Oberlin College Conservatory, she resigned from academic employment in 1982 in order to pursue a career as a full-time composer. She is the recipient of the Year 2000 "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Vermont Arts Council. Walker's catalog includes over 130 commissioned works for orchestra, band, chorus and chamber ensembles. Recent works demonstrate the composer's interest in combining theatrical elements with musical composition. Letters to the World (2001), a piano quartet, incorporates readings from the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Acquaintance With Nature (2002),  for chorus, clarinet, piano and narrator, weaves music around the writings of Henry David Thoreau. This variety of genres is reflective of the composer's enthusiasm for a wide range of creative endeavors. Orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal and staged works are all part of the Walker musical life. The common element is the pursuit of imaginative expression.

14. 

    28 Mar 2019

    Season 1, Episode 5 - Mark Reynolds, TXST Opera Director

    Director of Opera, Dr. Mark Reynolds, talks about the spring 2019 production of The Magic Flute and much more! Dr. Marc Reynolds A native of Los Angeles, Mark joined the School of Music faculty in Fall 2018 as an assistant professor and Director of Opera Studies. He received his undergraduate degree in Vocal Performance from Brigham Young University, Master of Music degree with an emphasis in Opera Directing from The University of Texas at Austin, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree with an emphasis in Opera Directing at The University of Texas at Austin. As a Stage Director Marc Reynolds has enjoyed success in directing including The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat for Austin Lyric Opera, Carmen, Falstaff, Die Fledermaus, and The Merry Widow for Utah Lyric Opera, The Mikado, The Old Maid and the Thief, La Cenerentola, The Magic Flute, and Amahl And The Night Visitors for Sparkling City Light Opera, La Serva Padrona for La Follia Austin Baroque, as well as La Curandera, Albert Herring, and Cosi Fan Tutte for the University of Texas at Austin’s Butler Opera Center. His work has received awards, nominations, and acclaim from the press and critics. As an educator Dr. Reynolds has taught for Westminster College, Utah Valley University, The University of Texas at Austin, The Butler Opera Center Young Artist Program, Brigham Young University, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Sparkling City Light Opera’s Vocal Arts workshop, Utah Vocal Arts Academy Workshop, and the Cornish-Amerian Song Institute. He has also enjoyed giving master classes and workshops across the United States and abroad.

15. 

    13 Dec 2018

    Season 1, Episode 4 - Derrick Brookins, Vice President & Vocal Chairman, TMEA

    TXST Choirs Today! talks with Derrick Brookins, Vice President & Vocal Chair for TMEA. Brookins talks of his time singing with the Moses Hogan Chorale and his role as TMEA Vocal Chair. Derrick Brookins has professionally served students and parents in Texas choral music education since 1996. A native of Fort Worth, Brookins has completed, with honors, both undergraduate and some graduate work at the University of North Texas earning a bachelor’s of music education and a masters of secondary education/administration from Concordia University. For 13 years, Brookins studied under and performed with world-renowned choral musician Moses Hogan. As a choral music performer, Brookins has performed on four continents and for several European royal families, and two U.S. Presidents. He is a highly sought after choral clinician and adjudicator throughout the U.S. Choirs under Mr. Brookins’s direction consistently receive Sweepstakes at UIL contest, have been named “Best in Class” at several choral festivals throughout the U.S., and have been invited to perform at several state and national conferences.Mr. Brookins has been recognized as Teacher of the Year at Williams HS (2000) and Plano Senior HS (2008.) He was also named as a finalist for Plano ISD Teacher of the Year, and has received the district’s Excellence in Teaching Award (2008). Mr. Brookins has served as Regional and Area Vocal Chair and as the organizer for a Texas All-State Choir. Brookins currently holds professional membership with TMEA, TCDA, ACDA, TMAA, the American Choristers Guild and has severed as Division Chair of Multicultural/Ethnic Choral Music for Southwest American Choral Directors Association.

16. 

    17 Nov 2018

    Season 1, Episode 3 - Lynn Brinckmeyer, former President NAfME

    Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer, Director of Choral Activities at Texas State University, talks about her new book "Advocate For Music!" Dr. Lynn M. Brinckmeyer is Professor of Music, Associate Director of the School of Music and Director of Choral Music Education at Texas State University. During 2006-2008 she served as President for The National Association for Music Education (formerly MENC). Other past offices include: President for the Northwest Division of MENC, Music Educators Journal Editorial Board, and Washington Music Educators Association General Music Curriculum Chair. In addition to chairing the Eastern Washington University Music Department for six years and conducting the EWU Concert Choir, Dr. Brinckmeyer received the Washington Music Educators Association Hall of Fame, the MENC Northwest Division Distinguished Service Award and Eastern New Mexico University’s Outstanding Alumni Award. Dr. Brinckmeyer recently published The Wonder of Music with John Jacobson. Other books include: Rhythm Rescue!, Wander the World with Warm-ups, The Wonder of Music with Hal Leonard Publishing and Advocate for Music with Oxford University Press. She founded the Eastern Washington University Girls’ Chorus while teaching at EWU. She also served as Artistic Director for the South Hill Children’s Chorus in Spokane, Washington. Dr. Brinckmeyer is a co-founder and Artistic Director for the Hill Country Youth Chorus in San Marcos, Texas. Dr. Brinckmeyer’s degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Music Education from Eastern New Mexico University, and a Ph.D. in Music Education from The University of Kansas. In New Mexico she taught elementary music and middle school choir, then moved to higher education in the Pacific Northwest. At Texas State University Dr. Brinckmeyer teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in choral music education, and she directs the Texas State Women’s Chamber Choir. Each summer Dr. Brinckmeyer teaches classes for Will Schmid’s World Music Drumming workshops. She has conducted all state choirs and honor choirs, lectured, presented master classes and performed in forty-nine states in the United States and 20+ countries, including China, Brazil, South Africa, Cuba and Peru.

17. 

    2 Nov 2018

    Season 1, Episode 2 - Tim Henderson, Washington State choir director and football coach

    Director of Choirs at Yelm High School, Washington, Tim Henderson has established himself as one of the most distinct music educators in the nation. As a teacher he has won accolades in both vocal jazz and classical choir. The award winning choir at Yelm High School is one of the leading programs in the state of Washington.

18. 

    29 Oct 2018

    Season 1, Episode 1 - Joey M. Martin, Director of Choral Activities at Texas State University

    Our inaugural episode features Dr. Joey M. Martin, Director of Choral Activities at Texas State University. Dr. Martin discusses his approach to preparing the text when learning a score. William Hawley's Not One Sparrow is featured for discussion. Joey M. Martin is a musician regarded for his diverse musical interests, engaging artistry, and passionate enthusiasm for the choral art. He is professor of music at Texas State University where he serves as the Associate Dean for the College of Fine Arts and Communication and as the Director of Choral Activities teaching graduate courses in choral conducting, choral literature and vocal pedagogy. Dr. Martin has been recognized as a Favorite Professor at Texas State and has received the Presidential Distinction Award for both Teaching and Service. During his time at Texas State he has directed four of the six university choirs. Choirs under his direction have appeared at the Southwest Division Conference of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the International Kodály Festival, the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Conference of ACDA. During the summer of 2005 he traveled with Texas State Chorale giving concerts in Vienna, Budapest, Salzburg, and Prague. In 2007 he returned to Europe with VocaLibre for a week of shared learning at the Slovakian National Conservatory in Bratislava. Most recently, Dr. Martin directed Texas State Chorale in concerts at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Port Elizabeth) and throughout the Garden Route of South Africa and in prestigious venues in Beijing and Shanghai. In addition to his work at Texas State, Dr. Martin has served as the artistic director for the Alamo City Men’s Chorale and with Craig Hella Johnson and Michelle Schumann as part of the creative team for the Victoria Bach Festival. His scholarly/creative activities have taken him to thirteen countries including much of Europe, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. Recent engagements include conducting the Connecticut American Choral Directors Association Women’s Honor Choir, Conducting Professor for the Transient Glory Choral Symposium and Festival at NYU, conductor for Honor Choir USA in Honolulu, Hawai’i, and director of the Texas Two Year College All-State Chorus. He currently serves as the music director for historic First Protestant Church (New Braunfels, TX). As a pianist, he also enjoys collaborating with vocal artists in recitals serving as coach/accompanist for such diverse artists are Jennie Olson, Maria Jette, Timothy Jones, Cheryl Parrish, Soon Cho, and Juli Wood. Dr. Martin received his DMA in choral conducting from the University of Texas-Austin where he studied conducting with Craig Hella Johnson, piano with Betty Mallard, and voice with Martha Deatheridge. He received his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music Education (Vocal/Choral) from Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he studied voice with Dr. Charles Chapman and piano with Dr. James Breckenridge. He is a recent graduate of the Harvard School of Education Management Development Program.

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