In Sounds Good, you meet people who stand out in their field and live and breathe for choirs. Here they share their thoughts and experiences and talk about topics that are interesting for both conductors and singers.
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In this episode of Sounds Good by ChoirMate, Dr. Jaclyn Normandie sits down with Dr. Donald Brinegar, a conductor, voice pedagogue, and author whose work has shaped generations of singers and conductors. Together they explore what it really means to lead from honesty rather than ego. Don makes the case that the human voice is an endlessly flexible instrument, that the most useful thing a leader can cultivate is self-awareness instead of self-consciousness, and that the angry leader is almost always a leader who simply does not have the information they need. From a gospel choir that transforme
In this episode of Sounds Good by ChoirMate, Dr. Jaclyn Normandie speaks with Dr. Deb Confredo, past president of the National Association for Music Education, professor at Temple University, and a 44-year veteran music educator. They explore a truth that lives at the heart of every ensemble: a leader's real job transcends the notes on the page. Together they discuss building culture and community, the shift from "mine" to "ours" that lets an ensemble survive a change in leadership, and why deep preparation is what frees a conductor to listen, create, and connect. From a hair-raising story of
In this episode of Sounds Good by ChoirMate, Dr. Jaclyn Normandie speaks with Tori Longdon, Associate Chorus Director of the London Philharmonic Choir and Principal Conductor of the Covent Garden Chorus. They explore a truth many conductors discover early: leadership often arrives before confidence or expertise fully develops. Together they discuss how musicians can grow authority while still learning, lead ensembles with clarity, and manage the inner experience of impostor syndrome. From embodied leadership to practical rehearsal strategies, this conversation offers guidance for anyone steppi
In this episode of Sounds Good, Dr. Jaclyn Normandie speaks with conductor and educator Dr. Pearl Shangkuan about the real pressures women face in music and beyond—navigating career, family, and the persistent myth of “having it all.” Together, they explore burnout, brain development, the role of choice, and what it means to define success on your own terms. Any thoughts? Contact us: podcast@soundsgood.as
Was choral singing truly better in the past — or are we misreading what has changed? In this episode of Sounds Good, host Dr. Jaclyn Normandie speaks with Danish choral conductor and educator Jonas Rasmussen about nostalgia, quality, participation, and the evolving role of choral music in a globalized world. Drawing from his work as an artistic director, academy professor, and digital educator, Jonas offers a clear-eyed perspective on what has been lost, what has been gained, and what the future of choral singing may actually hold. This conversation invites conductors, singers, and educators t
In this episode of Sounds Good, host Dr. Jaclyn Normandie speaks with Dr. Edith Copley about how music transcends technical skill to foster human connection and community. From leading choirs on international trips to exposing students to global singing cultures, Dr. Copley emphasizes the transformative role of music in building empathy and collaboration. She also discusses innovative initiatives by ACDA and collaborators aimed at supporting choral conductor wellness—addressing vocal, musculoskeletal, auditory, and mental health. New directors will gain valuable advice on networking, staying p
AI can mimic voices and generate entire performances — but can it ever replace the magic of a choir? In Part Two of our Future of Choir mini-series, host Dr. Jaclyn Normandie is joined again by Chris Eanes, President and CEO of Chorus America, to explore what makes singing together fundamentally human. From the breath we share to the silence between notes, this episode asks: in an AI-saturated world, why will the human voice always win? Discover more about Dr. Eanes and Chorus American at: https://chorusamerica.org Any thoughts? Contact us: podcast@soundsgood.as
In this episode of Sounds Good, host Dr. Jaclyn Normandie welcomes Chris Eanes, President & CEO of Chorus America, for a deep dive into the claim that "classical music is dying." Where did this idea come from, and why does it keep resurfacing? Is the narrative actually true — or does choral music offer a radically different story? Across three themes, Jaclyn and Chris unpack the resilience of choirs, the cultural role they play as community "third spaces," and why choral music might be uniquely positioned to thrive in the future. They explore whether a "living canon" is still forming today, wh
In this inspiring episode, host Dr. Jaclyn Normandie speaks with Dr. Burak Onur Erdem, principal conductor of the Turkish State Polyphonic Choir and vice president of the International Federation of Choral Music (IFCM). Dr. Erdem shares his remarkable journey from political science to choral conducting, and explores the transformative power of collective singing. As festival director of the 2023 World Symposium on Choral Music in Istanbul, Burak offers profound insights into how choirs serve as instruments of peace, identity, and social change. From the Estonian Singing Revolution to microtona
In this episode, we speak with Thomas Caplin, a well-respected professor of choir leadership, composer, singer, and clinician, known for his pedagogical approach to choir leadership. He was awarded 'Conductor of the year' by The Norwegian Choir Association in 2004, and conducts the award-winning youth choir Defrost in Norway. Thomas is passionate about the socio-psychological environment in any choir and has many words of wisdom for choir leaders of all genres and levels. Read more and get in touch with Thomas here: https://www.thomascaplin.com Any thoughts? Contact us: podcast@soundsgood.as
Philip Read, a passionate conductor and member of The Spooky Men's Chorale, advocates for male mental health through the power of choir. He's the founder of The Best Sing Since Sliced Bread and organizes 'Singing in the Shed', a welcoming festival that encourages men of all backgrounds to experience the joy of singing. Discover more about this inclusive and transformative singing weekend at Singing in the Shed: https://www.singingintheshed.co.uk Any thoughts? Contact us: podcast@soundsgood.as
Annemarie Homan had a brilliant idea for all the singers who want to join vocal festivals to perform, but don't have a group or choir to travel with; The Single Singers. What do they do and how can you join? Listen on! Want to join the Single Singers? Send an e-mail to info@thesinglesingers.com or visit their Facebook-page: https://www.facebook.com/TheSingleSingers Any thoughts? Contact us: podcast@soundsgood.as
Christine Mulgrew is one half of the brains behind Total Choir Resources. She shares with us about the importance of a community for conductors, the importance of community choirs and how anyone anywhere can become a conductor. She also tells us about her exciting new project, bringing together conductors from all over the world! Join Choir Leader Link: http://choirleaderlink.com Have a look TOTAL CHOIR RESOURCES: https://www.totalchoirresources.com Or join their online community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcrmastermind Any thoughts? Contact us: podcast@soundsgood.as
Sounds Good host and ChoirMate ambassador Dyveke Kuløy talks to Dr. Amy Bebbington, Head of the training programme for the Association of British Choral Directors (ABCD), in London, UK. Amy is a highly trained and skilled conductor with plenty of advice for aspiring conductors and for those who've been in the game for a while! Amy has worked closely with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain as Course Director, Musicianship Tutor and Guest Tutor. She has performed in award-winning choirs and has choral works published by Banks Music Publications and Multitude of Voyces. Amy has had the pl
Sounds Good host and ChoirMate ambassador Dyveke Kuløy talks to professor Jim Daus Hjernøe at RAMA in Ålborg, Denmark. Jim has developed his own musical sign language for choirs and works with both VOPA and The Intelligent Choir philosophy. Learn more about how and why in this episode! Want to learn more about VOPA and The Intelligent Choir? Visit Jim's website: https://theintelligentchoir.com/jim-daus-hjernoee/ Any thoughts? Contact us: podcast@soundsgood.as
Sounds Good host and ChoirMate ambassador Dyveke Kuløy talks to founding member of The Real Group and professor at RAMA Peder Karlsson, who believes we can help save the environment - one song and one choir at the time. Now he and the rest of the crew in Choirs For Ecocide Law are launching a world wide project supported by the European Choral Association and Stop Ecocide International. Learn more about how and why in this episode! Do you want to join the movement? It's completely free. Visit: https://www.stopecocide.earth/choirs to sign up! Any thoughts? Contact us: podcast@soundsgood.as
Margrethe Ek startet allerede som 14-åring å dirigere kor. Nå bor hun i Rygge og jobber til daglig som avdelingsleder på Musikk-Dans og Drama linja ved Kirkeparken videregående skole i Østfold. Hun dirigerer Moss Ensemble Consensus og har utdannelse innen sang, direksjon, musikkformidling og musikk og helse. Margrethe Ek er mye brukt som instruktør ved seminarer og holder ofte foredrag om kor og helse samt musikkformidling. Sangteknikk i kor og hvordan opptre på scenen er noe Ek jobber mye med. Margrethe er ofte brukt som jurymedlem i nasjonale og internasjonale korkonkurranser. Har du tips, t
ChoirMate-ambassadør Dyveke Wedel Kuløy møter artist og dirigent Kim Wigaard Johansen, et fyrverkeri av et menneske som forteller om sin reise fra sjenert Sølvgutt, via New York, Idol og Melodi Grand Prix, frem til i dag hvor han er dirigent for Demenskoret på NRK. Ønsker du å komme i kontakt med Kim og lære mer om hva som skal til for å etablere og lede demenskor der du bor? https://nmh.no/studier/kurs/etablering-og-ledelse-av-demenskor Har du tips, tanker, ris eller ros? Ta kontakt med oss: podcast@soundsgood.as
Fra Tonsen kirke til Oslo Spektrum: ChoirMate-ambassadør Dyveke Kuløy møter dirigent for Oslokoret Vetle Gjevestad Agledahl som deler om hvordan Oslokoret samarbeider med artister og om hvordan man kan lage en sterk merkevare i korverdenen. I tillegg viser Nora Jaavall Hansen, Line Jacobsen og Didrik Breivik oss rundt bak scenen i Oslo Spektrum før korets konsert med Sondre Justad. Vil du vite mer om Oslokoret? https://www.oslokoret.no Har du tips, tanker, ris eller ros? Ta kontakt med oss: podcast@soundsgood.as
