Interviews with Choir Leaders

#15 Chris Rowbury

Chris Rowbury is a choir conductor and workshop leader with over 30 years experience. Based in Suffolk, England, Chris runs singing workshops and residential singing weekends, and also writes a weekly choir blog called From The Front Of The Choir.
Chris has a humorous and relaxing style, and can be quite mischievous and contrarian. We used topics from Chris' blog as jumping-off points in this wide-ranging discussion.
 
Expect to learn:
What is an "eggy moment" and why does Chris love them?
What one skill would Chris magically bestow on all singers, if he could?
What mindset helped Chris to run a workshop when only five people turned up and the space was occupied by huge pillars?
Why does Chris sometimes turn off all the lights in his rehearsal?
Why is it important for choir leaders to put themselves in the singer's shoes?
And much more...
 
Chris' website
https://chrisrowbury.com/
 
Chris' blog
https://blog.chrisrowbury.com/

#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 started a competitive chorus for young men from scratch, and which choir leaders he admires.
 
Expect to learn:
How Cornerstone Chorus develops their 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...
 
The Blenders Chorus
https://www.theblenders.com.au/
 
Cornerstone Chorus Website
https://cornerstonechorus.com.au/
 
Cornerstone Chorus YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@cornerstonechorus7417/featured
 
Harmony University (USA)
https://www.barbershop.org/events/harmony-university-2024
 
Cornerstone Chorus Contest Set 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUMV24S91-c&pp=ygUSY29ybmVyc3RvbmUgY2hvcnVz
 
Cornerstone Chorus performance of Girl Next Door
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWD7ONvVvWI&pp=ygUSY29ybmVyc3RvbmUgY2hvcnVz

#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...
 
Choir-bolical community choir based in Toowoomba https://choirbolical.com/
 
Pub Choir website and tickets https://www.pubchoir.com.au/
Pub Choir on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@PubChoir
Pub Choir on Instagram instagram.com/pubchoir
Pub Choir on Facebook facebook.com/pubchoir
Pub Choir on Twitter/X twitter.com/pubchoir
 
James Cuskelly Summer School https://cuskellycollegeofmusic.com/summer-school/
 
My website: https://danbennettmusic.com/
 
Support the show on Patreon! patreon.com/danbennett
 
Listen to the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sAqIN1...
 
Listen to the podcast on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/daniel-bennett...
 
Listen to the podcast on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxCFAtYIgm3JihWn3GazAIhzM4qoekr2m&si=Nzdtuj1BiUz2-XxO

#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...
 
John Rotar's website
https://www.johnrotarcomposer.com/
 
The Australian Voices choir
https://www.theaustralianvoices.com/
 
Recordings used:
Painted In Dirt - composed by John Rotar, performed by The Australian Voices
(no link available - sorry!)
 
Passio - composed by John Rotar, performed by The Australian Voices
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmVPLk9inKc
 
Levavarunt Flumina - composed by John Rotar, performed by The Australian Voices
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5pdxxRV_Yw
 
What We See - composed by John Rotar, performed by The Australian Voices
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlztjxWMSxk
 
My website: https://danbennettmusic.com/
 
Support the show on Patreon! patreon.com/danbennett
 
Watch the podcast on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/YI2UoUysNso
 
 
Listen to the podcast on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/daniel-bennett...

#11 Dan Walker

An expanding library of ideas for choir leaders - get to know and learn from your choir-leading heroes. In episode 11 of Interviews with Choir Leaders, we talk to 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...
 
Dan Walker's website
http://www.danwalkercomposer.com/vocalandchoral
 
Dan Walker's Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/dan.walker.3572
 
Dan Walker's SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.com/musicofdanwalker
 
Dan Walker's groups
The Canberra Chorale Society https://canberrachoralsociety.org/
Oriana Chorale http://orianachorale.com/
Canberra Community Chorale https://canberracommunitychorale.com/
Luminescence Chamber Singers https://www.luminescence.org.au/
 
ACDA (American Choral Director's Association) Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/ACDANational/
 
Leonard Bernstein conducting with no hands video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WvTQb4MonI
 
Recordings Used:
Out There - Birralee Voices
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvgnVqtc8To
Phonograph - Sydney Philharmonia Choirs
https://open.spotify.com/track/4QpoS7xzpTEuXeCGKCrNWL
How Can You Catch The Wind? Junior Gondwana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ7LhWVTOa4
Mass of Deliverance - Sanctus
https://soundcloud.com/musicofdanwalker/sanctus?si=b9fc98394e104d89b670f500a789e9df&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Arafura IV - Gondwana Chorale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bveZwi7WqM0
Forever In A Day - Dan Walker
https://soundcloud.com/musicofdanwalker/forever-in-a-day?si=07259f60a66f4cb4b8d0950612321080&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
This Secret World - Sydney Philharmonia Choirs
https://open.spotify.com/track/0ujd8BuDbFFlbbFEcwaF0U?si=06f93c24290e4ca4
 
My website: https://danbennettmusic.com/

#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.
 
Show Notes
Melbourne Indie Voices website
https://www.melbourneindievoices.com.au/
 
MIV on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/melbourneindievoices/?hl=en
 
MIV on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5wl6QrfdIhANZS9fWmb9Hx?si=BTWtfbzZR-G7YPp14raTIQ
 
MIV on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/melbourneindievoices/
 
MIV YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@MelbourneIndieVoices
 
Phia’s website
http://www.listentophia.com/phia-solo
 
Phia on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/355BXbSgxHJdL8xX5UZrrh?si=YuCc8D6iQUaXyhSszYZOzg
 
Phia on Instragram
https://www.instagram.com/listentophia/?hl=en
 
Warm Me Up App:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wmu&hl=en&gl=US&pli=1
 
Don’t Look Back In Anger (Dan’s arrangement for Mixtape Chorus)
https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/1024122/Product.aspx
 
Melbourne International Singers Festival
https://www.playitforward.org.au/events/misf
 
Brunswick Women’s Choir
https://brunswickwomenschoir.org.au/
 
The Boite
https://www.boite.com.au/about

#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...
 
Show Notes
Circular Keys Chorus
https://circularkeys.org/
 
Sydney Harmony Chorus
https://www.sydneyharmony.com.au/
 
Alouette Quartet
https://www.facebook.com/alouette.quartet/
 
Alter Ego Quartet
https://www.facebook.com/AlterEgoQuartet/
 
Bay Area Showcase Chorus
https://www.singharmony.org/

#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