Choir Baton

Our fear of judgement can often hold us back from reaching our full potential. Listen as I discuss this as well as other topics of Music Service Learning, the importance of listening, and more in this conversation with Marci Major and Hannah Knauss, co-authors of the book Choral Connection.

Dr. Marci Major serves as Chair and Associate Professor of Music Education at West Chester University, PA, and directs the Bel Canto ensemble with the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus. Additionally she founded and directs Music Service Learning, an organization that strives to support pre- and in-service teachers through collaborative relationships. Beyond teaching, Dr. Major is an active researcher, clinician, adjudicator, and conductor. Dr. Major earned her B.S. in music education from West Chester University, her M.M. in choral conducting from Michigan State University, and her Ph.D. in music education from The Ohio State University. Prior to collegiate teaching, Dr. Major taught middle and high school choir in Michigan. Dr. Major resides in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with her husband, son, and daughter.

Hannah Knauss is the choral director at Interboro High School. She received a B.M. in Music Education from West Chester University and a M.Ed in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Cabrini University. At Interboro, she teaches piano, theory, and choral classes. She also directs the theater program. Hannah was selected as the recipient of the 2017 PMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator Award. She currently serves as the PMEA District 12 Treasurer. Outside of teaching, Hannah has conducted and performed with community choirs in the Philadelphia area. She recently co-authored Choral Connections: Enhancing Ensemble Experiences that can be found on fflat-books.com.

Purchase your copy of Choral Connections here: https://fflat-books.com/product/choral-connections-enhancing-ensemble-experiences/

Find out more about Music Service Learning on their website: https://musicservicelearning.org
and by following them on
Twitter: @MusSrvcLrning
Instagram: @musicservicelearning
Facebook: @musicservicelearning

You can follow Hannah Knauss on Instagram: @msknauss and see what her choir is up to on their Twitter: @InterboroChoir

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com  and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton  @bethphilemon
Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership waiting list or for more information, go here.

To learn more about my new course on Pandemic Choir Planning, visit here.

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here.

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

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Listen to this episode to hear all of the ways Kaitlin Simonson has been creatively overcoming virtual learning as a barrier and engaging students in singing in new ways! 

Kaitlin Simonson teaches music at The Brearley School in Manhattan, and is the conductor of the Lux Mea Women’s Chorus. She relocated to New York four years ago after teaching choir at Canarelli Middle School in Las Vegas, NV. Under her direction, the six choirs performed throughout the southwest earning superior ratings at festivals and competitions. As an associate conductor for the National Children's Chorus in Manhattan, Kaitlin works with the junior division students ages 4-6, and 10-12. She is trained in the Kodàly Method, an experience based pedagogy method that efficiently instills excellent musicianship in singers of all ages. Kaitlin has been a guest conductor of honor choirs in Nevada and Arizona. Her rapport with students, and focus on the human connection through music make her rehearsals unforgettable. 

As a classically trained soprano, Kaitlin has performed as a soloist with the Southern Nevada Symphony Orchestra and the San Diego Pro Arte Voices. She is an experienced choral singer praised for her sight reading abilities, preparation and collegiality. 

Kaitlin holds a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she studied with Dr. Linda Lister. In addition, she holds a B.M.E. in Choral Music Education cum laude from Northern Arizona University where she studied with Dr. Edith Copley and Dr. Ryan Holder. Kaitlin has completed three years of coursework in the Kodàly Methodology with Susan Brumfield at Portland State University. She serves on the KONY board as a general member. She is a member of ACDA, OAKE, and NAfME.

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com  and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton  @bethphilemon
Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership waiting list or for more information, go here.

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here.

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

Follow @ChoirBaton on
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Visit ChoirBaton.com

Follow @BethPhilemon on
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After a life changing performance experience watching the Dallas Street Choir sing at national ACDA conference a couple years ago, I have the honor of interviewing Dr. Jonathan Palant, the conductor. Listen to hear his perspective on inequality in music and making a community space for singing.

Jonathan Palant is Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Texas at Dallas and is founder and conductor of both Credo, a 140-member community choir, and the Dallas Street Choir, a musical outlet for those experiencing homelessness and disadvantage. In addition, Dr. Palant is Director of Music at Kessler Park United Methodist Church and is employed by the Dallas Independent School District to mentor middle and high school vocal music teachers. 

In June 2016, Dr. Palant made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut performing with renowned artists Frederica von Stade, Harolyn Blackwell, Jake Heggie, and Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz.

From 2007-2011, he served as Artistic Director of Dallas’ Turtle Creek Chorale. Prior to that, Palant held collegiate teaching positions at Western Kentucky University and Madonna University, Livonia, Michigan. He taught secondary choral music at University School, an all-boys independent school in Cleveland, Ohio, and San Pasqual High School in Escondido, California.

Dr. Palant currently serves as president of the National Alliance for Music In Vulnerable Communities, Community Choir Repertoire and Standards Chair for the Southwest American Choral Directors Association (SWACDA), and sits on the board of directors of the Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses. He has also served on the state board of the Michigan chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and Youth First Texas where he was founder and conductor of Dallas PUMP!, a choir serving at-risk youth.

In late 2017, the Dallas Morning News named Palant one of nine “Texan of the Year” finalists, and in 2016, Musical America named him one of their “Innovators of the Year” for establishing the Dallas Street Choir. 

Both Palant’s book, Brothers, Sing On! Conducting the Tenor-Bass Choir, and his Brothers, Sing On! Choral Series are published by the Hal Leonard Corporation.
Dr. Palant holds degrees from Michigan State University, Temple University and the University of Michigan.

Find more about Dr. Palant and the Dallas Street choir here:
 jonathanpalant.com
DallasStreetChoir.org
CredoChoir.org

Or connect with them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dallasstreetchoir

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com  and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton  @bethphilemon
Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership waiting list or for more information, go here.

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here.

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

Follow @ChoirBaton on
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Visit ChoirBaton.com

Follow @BethPhilemon on
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This interview is with my former high school teacher and one of my reasons for going into music education, listen for stories and powerful conversation.

Diane Covington served as Choral Director at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, North Carolina for 19 years.  During her tenure there, the Leesville Road Choral Department grew in numbers from 32 singers to its enrollment of 200 upon her retirement.  Prior to moving to North Carolina, Mrs. Covington was the Choral Director at Fairview Middle School in Tallahassee, Florida enabling that program to grow in numbers from 30 to 250 in 5 years.

Her choirs participated in regional and national festivals where they consistently received Superior ratings.  Mrs. Covington’s choirs performed at venues such as Riverside Church in New York City, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, the Basilica in Washington, DC, and Westminster Cathedral in London.  They also performed for the North Carolina Music Educators Association conference and the North Carolina conference of the American Choral Directors Association.  In 2011 her choir was one of two high school choirs from across the U.S. to be selected by the Weill Institute of Music to perform the Berlioz “Requiem” in Carnegie Hall.  In February of 2012 the Leesville choir performed in the National President’s Day Choral Concert held at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

Mrs. Covington received her Bachelor of Music degree from Mars Hill College, and also received her National Board certification.  She is a member of the National Association for Music Educators and the American Choral Directors Association.  In 2011, Mrs. Covington was voted “Teacher of the Year” by the North Carolina High School Choral Directors of NCMEA.  She is a mentor and consultant for North Carolina high school choral directors, and is frequently called upon to serve as conductor, consultant and adjudicator for county and state choral events across NC and VA.  Mrs. Covington has also served as a Board Member for the North Carolina Master Chorale and where she served as the liason between the Master Chorale and local high school choral programs.

Married for 42 years to Dr. David L. Covington, Mrs. Covington resides in Raleigh, NC.  The Covingtons have two children, and two granddaughters.

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton  @bethphilemon
Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership waiting list or for more information, go here

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

Follow @ChoirBaton on
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Visit ChoirBaton.com

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In this episode, my professor at North Carolina University in the MBA program shares his insight about changing professions, transferrable skills, and the value of teachers.

Chris is an adjunct professor, strategy, leadership and innovation consultant, and the President and COO of a boutique management consulting firm. He has served in six general management and senior level roles, ranging from startups, state agencies, turnarounds, and high growth companies over his 35 + year career.
Chris has led strategy and leadership workshops for over 6,300 aspiring, emerging, and mid-level leaders. He’s also led executive development programs for over 2,000 senior and C-suite leaders from the Dept of Defense (O-5 to O-10), federal and state government, engineering, healthcare, IT, professional service firms, education, and non-profit sectors throughout the United States.
A former basketball official, school principal, and Eagle Scout, Chris earned his Ph.D. at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1990. He earned his B.A. (1981) and M.A. (1982) from Austin College in Sherman, TX.  He and his wife of over 30 years have two adult children and two grandchildren.

Find out more about Chris Hitch at his website: https: chrishitch.com

In addition to the other book recommendations Chris mentions in the podcast, he would like to encourage listeners to buy a copy of Values Based Leaders In Action, where all proceeds go to NCSU's Shelton Leadership Center for youth scholarships.
Book link is here.

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger

For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton  @bethphilemon 

Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership waiting list or for more information, go here. 

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here. 

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

Follow @ChoirBaton on
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Visit ChoirBaton.com

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Emmy and I discuss a wide range of topics but we keep returning to the "why." Knowing the "why" of anything you do is important, listen to this episode to find out more about how to find your purpose and self-reflect.

Dr. Emily Williams Burch is the founder and artistic director of RISE Chorales, a community choir organization in Savannah, GA with a mission of experiencing musical artistry, education, and personal growth through the choral arts and community experiences. Burch received her Doctorate in Conducting with doctoral minors in music history and music theory from the University of South Carolina, during which she taught introduction to music, designed and taught the history of rock, and directed the university women’s chorus. Dr. Burch earned her Masters of Music Education from Florida State University, where she assisted with the Capital Children’s Choir, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Louisiana State University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Prior to that, she served on the podium as Director of Education and Music for the Savannah Children’s Choir for nine years and worked as Department Chair/General Music/Piano Teacher at Garrison School of Visual and Performing Arts. She continues to have the privilege of traveling the country as a Teacher Trainer and Choral Curriculum Developer for Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music, an interactive K-8 music curriculum. Additionally, she serves as an Artistic Adviser for Perform International, where she helps organizations create and realize their dreams on tours in the US and abroad. Choirs under her direction choirs have performed regionally, nationally, and internationally. Emmy has volunteered in various roles within the American Choral Directors Association, including Repertoire & Resources Chair for Children’s and Youth Community Choirs for the Southern Region. She and her husband live in Savannah, GA where they are members of the Metropolitan Savannah Rotary Club and marathoners who train with the Savannah Striders.


To contact Emmy or find out more visit:
EmilyBurch.org, Facebook, or Instagram: @dremmyb

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger

For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton @bethphilemon 

Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the waitlist for the Choir Baton Teaching Membership or for more information, go here. 

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, including information regarding the FREE Introductory Singer Course, sign-up here. 

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

Follow @ChoirBaton on
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Visit ChoirBaton.com

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Join me in this episode with Tori Cook as we discuss the intersection of music and business, the future of community choirs, the innovation of the choral community during Covid-19, and much more!

Tori Cook is the Director of Sales & Marketing at Chorus Connection. She sings with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and is a board member of the Greater Boston Choral Consortium. In a past life, she was the Music Director of the Harborlight Show Chorus and President of Chorus pro Musica in Boston. When not making music, she daydreams about adopting a golden retriever puppy and scuba diving to exotic locations around the world.

Contact Tori Cook from this email: [email protected]
Find more information about Chorus Connections here.

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger

For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com  and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton @bethphilemon
Music by: Scott Holmes
To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership or for more information, go here.
To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, including information regarding the FREE Introductory Singer Course, sign-up here. 

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

Follow @ChoirBaton on
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Visit ChoirBaton.com

Follow @BethPhilemon on
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Visit BethPhilemon.com

I met Tommy Economou through a Tik Tok he made about the influence choir has had on his professional singing career with his band. Listen to find out more about how growing up in choir has made an impact on his current life and how Tik Tok has brought musicians together during these pandemic times.

You can connect with Tommy and his band More Fatter with the info below:
Instagram: @MoreFatter
Website: morefatter.live
Find their music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and more!

Check out the YouTube video of this episode to see the Tik Tok that connected us!

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger

For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton  @bethphilemon

Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership or for more information, go here.

To join the waitlist for the Choir Baton Teaching Membership, go here.

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here. 

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

Follow @ChoirBaton on
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Visit ChoirBaton.com

Follow @BethPhilemon on
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In this episode, I talk about how we as musicians and especially as music teachers often find it hard to ask for help. I discuss the stigma around seeking assistance both in our classrooms and personal life and I share some examples from my own life. When we ask for help, it allows us to focus our attention on things that need it.


Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger

For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton  @bethphilemon

Subscribe to the Choir Baton YouTube channel for more Choir Baton content.

Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership or for more information, go here.

To join the waitlist for the Choir Baton Teaching Membership, go here.

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here. 

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

Follow @ChoirBaton on
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Visit ChoirBaton.com

Follow @BethPhilemon on
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This interview was conducted with two former students of mine: Maggie Hemedinger and Jonathan Pelletier.

Jonathan is a senior civil engineering student at North Carolina State University and continues to sing in his university's ensemble. Maggie is a senior music education and Hispanic Studies major at East Carolina University. In this episode, they discuss bonding over choir, the applicable skills from choir in the real world and several other nerdy choir topics.

You can find Maggie on Instagram @mdinger1 or reach via email [email protected]

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger

For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton  @bethphilemon

Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership or for more information, go here. 

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, including information regarding the FREE Introductory Singer Course, sign-up here. 

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

Follow @ChoirBaton on
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Visit ChoirBaton.com

Follow @BethPhilemon on
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Visit BethPhilemon.com