TXST Choirs Today!

On this episode of Texas State Choirs Today we talk to the Vice President & Vocal Chair for TMEA, Mr. Derrick Brookins. Brookins talks of his time singing with the Moses Hogan Chorale and his role as TMEA Vocal Chair.

On this episode of Texas State Choirs Today we talk to the Vice President & Vocal Chair for TMEA, Mr. Derrick Brookins. Brookins talks of his time singing with the Moses Hogan Chorale and his role as TMEA Vocal Chair.

Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer, Director of Choral Activities at Texas State University, talks about her new book "Advocate For Music!" 

Dr. Lynn M. Brinckmeyer is Professor of Music, Associate Director of the School of Music and Director of Choral Music Education at Texas State University. During 2006-2008 she served as President for The National Association for Music Education (formerly MENC). Other past offices include: President for the Northwest Division of MENC, Music Educators Journal Editorial Board, and Washington Music Educators Association General Music Curriculum Chair. In addition to chairing the Eastern Washington University Music Department for six years and conducting the EWU Concert Choir, Dr. Brinckmeyer received the Washington Music Educators Association Hall of Fame, the MENC Northwest Division Distinguished Service Award and Eastern New Mexico University’s Outstanding Alumni Award.

Dr. Brinckmeyer recently published The Wonder of Music with John Jacobson. Other books include: Rhythm Rescue!, Wander the World with Warm-ups, The Wonder of Music with Hal Leonard Publishing and Advocate for Music with Oxford University Press. She founded the Eastern Washington University Girls’ Chorus while teaching at EWU. She also served as Artistic Director for the South Hill Children’s Chorus in Spokane, Washington. Dr. Brinckmeyer is a co-founder and Artistic Director for the Hill Country Youth Chorus in San Marcos, Texas.

Dr. Brinckmeyer’s degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Music Education from Eastern New Mexico University, and a Ph.D. in Music Education from The University of Kansas. In New Mexico she taught elementary music and middle school choir, then moved to higher education in the Pacific Northwest. At Texas State University Dr. Brinckmeyer teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in choral music education, and she directs the Texas State Women’s Chamber Choir. Each summer Dr. Brinckmeyer teaches classes for Will Schmid’s World Music Drumming workshops. She has conducted all state choirs and honor choirs, lectured, presented master classes and performed in forty-nine states in the United States and 20+ countries, including China, Brazil, South Africa, Cuba and Peru.

Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer, Director of Choral Activities at Texas State University, talks about her new book "Advocate For Music!" 

Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer, Director of Choral Activities at Texas State University, talks about her new book "Advocate For Music!" 

Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer, Director of Choral Activities at Texas State University, talks about her new book "Advocate For Music!" 

Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer, Director of Choral Activities at Texas State University, talks about her new book "Advocate For Music!" 

Director of Choirs at Yelm High School, Washington, Tim Henderson has established himself as one of the most distinct music educators in the nation. As a teacher he has won accolades in both vocal jazz and classical choir. The award winning choir at Yelm High School is one of the leading programs in the state of Washington.

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.

Joey M. Martin is a musician regarded for his diverse musical interests, engaging artistry, and passionate enthusiasm for the choral art. He is professor of music at Texas State University where he serves as the Associate Dean for the College of Fine Arts and Communication and as the Director of Choral Activities teaching graduate courses in choral conducting, choral literature and vocal pedagogy. Dr. Martin has been recognized as a Favorite Professor at Texas State and has received the Presidential Distinction Award for both Teaching and Service. During his time at Texas State he has directed four of the six university choirs. Choirs under his direction have appeared at the Southwest Division Conference of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the International Kodály Festival, the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Conference of ACDA. During the summer of 2005 he traveled with Texas State Chorale giving concerts in Vienna, Budapest, Salzburg, and Prague. In 2007 he returned to Europe with VocaLibre for a week of shared learning at the Slovakian National Conservatory in Bratislava. Most recently, Dr. Martin directed Texas State Chorale in concerts at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Port Elizabeth) and throughout the Garden Route of South Africa and in prestigious venues in Beijing and Shanghai.

In addition to his work at Texas State, Dr. Martin has served as the artistic director for the Alamo City Men’s Chorale and with Craig Hella Johnson and Michelle Schumann as part of the creative team for the Victoria Bach Festival. His scholarly/creative activities have taken him to thirteen countries including much of Europe, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. Recent engagements include conducting the Connecticut American Choral Directors Association Women’s Honor Choir, Conducting Professor for the Transient Glory Choral Symposium and Festival at NYU, conductor for Honor Choir USA in Honolulu, Hawai’i, and director of the Texas Two Year College All-State Chorus. He currently serves as the music director for historic First Protestant Church (New Braunfels, TX). As a pianist, he also enjoys collaborating with vocal artists in recitals serving as coach/accompanist for such diverse artists are Jennie Olson, Maria Jette, Timothy Jones, Cheryl Parrish, Soon Cho, and Juli Wood.



Dr. Martin received his DMA in choral conducting from the University of Texas-Austin where he studied conducting with Craig Hella Johnson, piano with Betty Mallard, and voice with Martha Deatheridge. He received his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music Education (Vocal/Choral) from Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he studied voice with Dr. Charles Chapman and piano with Dr. James Breckenridge. He is a recent graduate of the Harvard School of Education Management Development Program.