TXST Choirs Today!

Jonathan Babcock

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. read less

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Season 5, Episode 1 - Rosephanye Powell, Auburn University

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 StillGospel Trinity - III. Holy Spirit, Come Rosephanye Powell; Rosephanye Powell, soloistTo sit and dream Rosephanye Powell; California State University-Long Beach University ChoirThe Word Was God - Rosephanye Powell; Texas A&M-Commerce Chorale

Season 5

Season 5, Episode 1 - Rosephanye Powell, Auburn University

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 StillGospel Trinity - III. Holy Spirit, Come Rosephanye Powell; Rosephanye Powell, soloistTo sit and dream Rosephanye Powell; California State University-Long Beach University ChoirThe Word Was God - Rosephanye Powell; Texas A&M-Commerce Chorale

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

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.

Season 4

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

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.

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

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

Interviewed at the 2019 Southwest ACDA Convention, Z. Randall Stroope talks of his early mentors, balancing a career of conducting and composing and where to find great texts for composition.Musical excerpts:Sure on this shining night - StroopeAmor di alma - StroopeThe Road Not Taken - Stroope

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

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.

Season 3

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

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.

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

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.

Season 2

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

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. During the summer he directs choirs at Blue Lake Fine Arts

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

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

Ralph Allwood, MBE talks with us about his career as Precentor at the prestigious Eton College and his Choral Course Program & the Rodolfus Choir.

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

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

TMEA 2020 EDITION - Dr. Bob Horton, Past-President TMEA

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

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

TMEA 2020 EDITION: Dawn Reinhuber & Brigitte Smith, directors of the San Marcos HS Men's Choir. The Choir had the honor of performing at this year's convention, and we took a little of their time at the convention to talk about their performance.

Season 1

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

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.

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

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

Tim Henderson of Yelm HS Washington talks with TXST Choirs Today! while he visits the campus.

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

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

Lynn Brinckmeyer talks about her latest book Advocate For Music, as well as her career as an educator.

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

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

Derrick Brookins discusses his time working with Moses Hogan as well as his work with TMEA.

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

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

In his first year as Opera Director at Texas State University, Marc Reynolds talks with guest host Francis Nieves about his production of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro in the world of Star Wars

Season 1, Episode 6 - Gwyneth Walker, composer

Season 1, Episode 6 - Gwyneth Walker, composer

Renowned composer Gwyneth Walker talks about her compositional process and her career as a female composer.

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

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

Craig Hella Johnson-Artistic Director of the Grammy Award Winning choral ensemble Conspirare, as well as Artist-in-Residence at TXST School of Music. Dr. Johnson talks with us about his Cantata Considering Matthew Shepard.