Interviews with Choir Leaders

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Interviews with Choir Leaders

What makes a successful choir leader tick? Listen and find out!

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!

03/06/2025

Episode #16 Stephen Taberner
Stephen Taberner is the "Spookmeister" of The Spooky Men's Chorale. He's a songwriter, arranger, workshop leader, performer, double-bassist and many things besides. The Spooky Men's Chorale has "accidentally" become his most important musical achievement.

Expect to learn:
- How to create a strong choir identity
- Why Stephen loves vocal arrangements with no melody
- What was the worst thing that ever happened during one of Stephen's gigs
- Why the Spooky Men's Chorale is like MONA in Hobart
- Why it's important to be Magnificent, Foolish and Tender
- And much more...

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Bwqzg6pQXY
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4W8O1zTcuhmJbSZDvPRn5Y?si=b3666823b1e4476f

Stephen Taberner is the "Spookmeister" of the acclaimed Spooky Men's Chorale. He's a songwriter, arranger, workshop leader, performer, double-bassist and man...

09/02/2025

Episode #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...

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/MNjLH0BEA54

Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Bqsn4dhKDFTqtpWlZjp6M?si=40127a553eea440e

Chris Rowbury is a choir conductor and workshop leader with over 30 years experience. Based in Suffolk, England, Chris runs singing workshops and residential...

25/09/2024

Episode #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 ca****la 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.
See Jono's groups performing very soon as part of the Barbershop Harmony Australia festival on the Gold Coast!
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...

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7qGRpirYPnA

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2un2kkckNDgIZXigAbVQLp?si=e3cea708c5844bad

0:00 Intro and Patreon message0:52 Recording: Beautiful Day by Cornerstone Chorus2:07 Welcome Jono2:42 How did you get into singing, barbershop and conductin...

24/06/2024

My new album is here! It's been a long time between albums (the last one was in 2011). I've learned a few tricks since then.
This album is instrumental. There's a mix of genres and styles - electronic, low-fi beats, funk, riff-based stuff, indie-rock, orchestral, folk, video game music, ambient... I have eclectic listening tastes, and it all comes out in this album.
The album is on Bandcamp, which does a better job supporting artists than pretty much any other platform, so please support me via the link below!

14 track album

19/04/2024

You've probably heard of Pub Choir, you may have even been to one of their fantastic shows. Now meet Astrid Jorgensen, Pub Choir's founder and director.

"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...

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 t...

20/12/2023

New SubStack post out - the interview with John Rotar, plus reflections on 2023.

The exuberant conductor of The Australian Voices

15/12/2023

In episode 12, I talk to John Rotar, Artistic Director of The Australian Voices.

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 is Conductor and Artistic Director of The Australian Voices. Described by Limelight as a ‘talented and innovative composer’, John is a prolific co...

30/10/2023

Throwback to Episode 4! Nick Schurmann

In episode 4 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 - recent update from 2023, Baden Street are crowned champions at the Pan Pacific 2023 Barbershop Harmony contest hosted by Barbershop Harmony New Zealand and Harmony Australia.

Nick is definitely a leader to watch!

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 Th

23/10/2023

Throwback to Episode 3! Ryan Nicholson

In episode 3 of Interviews with Choir Leaders I talk with Ryan Nicholson, Perth-based choir leader of The Men of The West, Rhythmos Choir and With One Voice Perth. 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”.

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

15/10/2023

Throwback to Episode 2! - Rachel H**e
In episode 2 I talk with Rachel H**e, founder of Rachel H**e's Pop Up Choir and Big Sing Community - make sure you check them out!

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.

In episode 2 I talk to Rachel H**e 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

09/10/2023

Throwback to Episode One! - Alpha Gregory
In episode 1 I talked to Alpha Gregory, local Canberra legend and accomplished choir leader of numerous groups including the Woden Valley Youth Choir

In episode 1 I talk to Alpha Gregory, accomplished choir leader of numerous groups including the Woden Valley Youth Choir. Become a supporter of the show! www.patreon.com/danbennett Notes on the int

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Canberra, ACT

Website

https://danbennettmusic.com/interviewswithchoirleaders, https://danbennett.substack.com/, https://www.patreon.com/danben

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