This page is dedicated to driving a conversation for choral musicians with the PHILOSOPHY of Choral Music at the heart of every post and podcast episode. Topics will be wide ranging from the technical aspects of our jobs and careers all the way to the artistic interpretations and values that make us who we are as artists. Join me in this conversation in which I hope we can learn from each other.
Episode 220: This is Your Brain on Music with Anita Collins
Oct 18, 2024
Show notes
One of my go to TED animations to play for students at the beginning of every year is the one that explains compellingly, the story of music as the best FULL BRAIN workout. But, Choral/Vocal education is not included in that research! The researcher behind that video, is this week’s guest. Don’t miss it.
Dr. Anita Collins joins me this week from Canberra, Australia. We had lively and informative discussion about the intersection of music education and neuroscience, as well as the connection between language and music.
Anita and I discussed the cognitive benefits of music education, emphasizing the importance of music for all students’ cognitive development, not just those interested in a music career. More importantly, we went into aspects of this topic that are often unknown to the general public, as well as music educators themselves. We also discussed the myths and misconceptions surrounding the topic, and the importance of flexibility in our profession in terms of “favorite methods.” Lastly, we discussed the potential benefits of research on how children learn through music, the importance of rhythm and beat in music education, and Anita’s organization, “Bigger Better Brains” efforts to advocate for music education, and how they can help YOU advocate in your community.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
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Dr. Anita Collins is a distinguished educator and author, celebrated for her impactful work in brain development and music education. Her seminal work, “The Music Advantage,” offers comprehensive guidance for parents and teachers on the role of musical learning in enhancing the developmental stages of children across all ages.
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She is also the founder of Bigger Better Brains, a worldwide platform dedicated to advancing the understanding of music education through neuroscience. The initiative focuses on three core missions: to educate music educators globally on the brain science underpinning music learning, to empower them to disseminate this knowledge within their communities, and to enlighten parents, school leaders, and educational policymakers about the profound benefits of music education.
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Anita’s global influence is noteworthy, particularly for her leadership in spearheading initiatives and releasing critical reports in Australia over the past five years. These efforts have markedly improved music education provision. Her influence has expanded to the UK and Ireland, where she collaborates with leading organizations to enhance the status and availability of music education for all.
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 219: Individual Literacy Assessment
Oct 11, 2024
Show notes
It is my strong belief that students have a RIGHT to receive individual instruction, feedback and assessment based on individual work in every class they take in school. Even music.
This past weekend I had the chance to visit with the amazing students of Magnolia High School as well as the local chapter of the Kodály Educators of Texas. In this episode, you will hear a portion of a presentation in which I outline our process of pre-testing beginning students to determine an appropriate reading level for their individual work. Theorists and researchers like Kodály, Edwin Gordon, John Curwen, and many others, have for centuries offered excellent observations and discoveries. But more recent science is now available. Can we bridge that gap?
The presentation begins in the human brain with a discussion about how humans learn to read. “What works for me” teacher response is a fallacy. What we should be seeking is “what works for kids’ brains.” There is still room for teacher individuality and approach/method within that framework. We talk about the parts of the brain used to process the various aspects of reading from decoding to recall to everything in between. You will also see some demonstrations and explanation of how I determine what SRF level is appropriate for students.
As always, Patreon and Substack paid subscribers will have access to the slides for this and past/future presentations. Members there will also find un-edited FULL versions of my presentations last week in Texas.
Come to KC and Sing Next June!Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 218: The Heart of the Matter with Kyle Pederson
Oct 04, 2024
Show notes
“Does the world say that you don’t look the right way? Does the world say a that you’re just not enough.” Text written by this week’s guest Kyle Pederson. One of the most powerful tools educators have is the connection of our content to the personal experiences of students.
Composer Kyle Pederson is a big advocate for “co-creation” in Music classrooms. This includes the more intuitive ways like empowering singers to be involved in the creative process (composing, text-writing, etc)…but in more subtle ways too, like finding opportunities in the rehearsal for students to insert original text, or even just come to a group decision about what “story” they are telling with the piece.
In several of his scores, Kyle provides space/time for singers to include narration/spoken word…which provides more opportunity for conversation in their choral classroom, and more opportunity for singers to lean into their own creativity. In this episode, we discuss this process and its benefits for young people. We even have a brief discussion of modern politics toward the end, so stick around for that!
As always, I hope you find something useful here!
Come to KC and Sing Next June!Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Kyle Pederson is a Minneapolis-based composer, lyricist, pianist, and educator.
He enjoys working at the intersection of the sacred and secular, and his lyrics and music invite the choir and audience to be agents of hope, grace, and compassion in the world.
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Pederson was awarded the American Prize in Choral Composition in 2019, and the ACDA Genesis Prize in 2020. Pederson has an undergraduate degree from Augustana Universi-ty, a Masters Degree in Education from University of St. Thomas, and an MFA in Music Composition from Vermont College of Fine Art. His work is commissioned, performed,
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and recorded by community, school, and professional choirs around the world and is published by Walton, Santa Barbara, ECS, Hal Leonard, Beckenhorst, Alfred, Carl Fischer, Hinshaw, and Gentry. Additional information and links to Kyle’s music can be found at kylepederson.com
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 217: Building Collaborative Learning Environments
Sep 27, 2024
Show notes
This episode pulls wisdom from Betsy Cooke Weber, on building a culture of leadership, ownership and professionalism in our classrooms and ensembles. This loaded “how to” session comes from her appearance back in episode 45 with updated thoughts from my on how these ideas are working in my classroom.
“If I were to return to K-12, I would not touch the piano.” One of the most important things we do to teach students independence, resilience and leadership in a rehearsal is to CONVINCE them that they don’t need you in order to learn the music. This takes time, and commitment to a process, and a pedagogy that is committed to this ultimate outcome.
Another crucial component is the director’s intentional structuring of rehearsals in ways that kids have the time and the resources they need to become co-creators of the music with us. We will hear Betsy’s thoughts about this as well as my reflections about some of the practices I installed since I first had this conversation.
As always, I hope you find something useful here!
Come to KC and Sing Next June!Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Go back to Betsy’s full episode and bio!
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.comGreat deals, speedy shipping, and back to school sales at SheetMusicPlus!RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 216: What is a Choir “Warm-up” Anyway with the LSHS Choirs
Sep 20, 2024
Show notes
I have published many peeks into my classroom before on the show. I have never shown you our opening class minutes before. This is where the real work happens. The “warm-up.” Or, as I would rather call it, “voice building time.”
In this episode, you will have a front row seat (video version recommended on YouTube and Clips on TikTok!) to the opening 10-12 minutes of our beginning Treble, Advanced Treble, Beginning Tenor-Bass and advanced SATB curricular choirs. This of course, is a snapshot of a day and should not represent an exact facsimile of our daily routine. Because, in fact, we don’t have a “daily” routine.
Instead, I will explain through demonstration and commentary the exercises we do, why we do them, and why I believe it’s important to use “warm up” time for a wide variety of things, and to mix it up from day to day. We use this time for voice building, literacy skills, music theory, relationship building and so much more. Our classes are tragically only 44 minutes long. So, the reality is we have to pick and choose the things they have a chance to try and experience.
As always, I hope you find something useful here!
Come to KC and Sing Next June!Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.comGreat deals, speedy shipping, and back to school sales at SheetMusicPlus!RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 215: Thinking in the Language of Music with Libby Larsen
Sep 13, 2024
Show notes
When I work with emerging composers trying to get noticed, I ask them “What are you trying to be noticed FOR?”- Libby Larsen. Could the social media environment incentivize non-musical answers to this question?
In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with the remarkable composer Libby Larsen about her journey into the world of music. We discuss the importance of viewing music education as a language-based approach, where understanding the “language” of music is just as critical as performance. Libby and I also explore the relationship between composition and performance, emphasizing the role of performers in bringing a composer’s work to life and the contemporary challenges that composers face in today’s music industry.
Our conversation extends to the impact of social media on artistic promotion and the pressure on composers to establish a personal brand based on identity categories at the expense of the focus on the music itself. Libby shares valuable insights from her own career, including her notable works for Oxford and some other publishers. We delve into the creation of meaningful art, the challenges of getting noticed in the industry, and the significance of staying true to one’s passion in the face of external pressures.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Libby Larsen, born December 24, 1950 in Wilmington, Delaware, is one of America’s most performed living composers.
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She has created a catalogue of over 500 works spanning virtually every genre from intimate vocal and chamber music to massive orchestral works and over 15 operas. Grammy award-winning and widely recorded, including over 50 CDs of her work, she is constantly sought after for commissions and premieres by major artists, ensembles, and orchestras around the world, and has established a permanent place for her works in the concert repertory.
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As a vigorous, articulate advocate for the music and musicians of our time, in 1973 Larsen co-founded the Minnesota Composers Forum, now the American Composer’s Forum, which has become an invaluable aid for composers in a transitional time for American arts. A former holder of the Papamarkou Chair at John W. Kluge Center of the Library of Congress, Larsen has also held residencies with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Charlotte Symphony, and the Colorado Symphony.
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 214: Church to School- Gospel in Academia with Dr. Emorja Roberson
Sep 06, 2024
Show notes
For those who sing Black Sacred music, “it is The Academy of the Black Church that taught us.”-Emorja Roberson. To see if you are a convincing performer of this art form, go to a Black Church and sing it. See how they receive you.
In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Emorja Roberson, the first African American DMA in Choral conducting from Notre Dame, choral conductor, and passionate gospel music researcher and teacher.
We dove into the rich cultural and spiritual significance of gospel music, exploring its evolution and global reach. Dr. Roberson emphasized the importance of understanding the cultural context when performing gospel music, while I raised questions about the line between appreciation and cultural appropriation.
We also touched on the impact of the George Floyd movement on various institutions, the role of Black composers, and the challenge of maintaining authenticity in diversifying music education. Dr. Roberson shared his unique approach to teaching through immersive experiences in Black churches, highlighting the communal and participatory elements that are often missed in academic settings. Our conversation also explored a possible tension between universities and Black churches in teaching gospel music, and the importance of experiencing the music within its cultural roots. Finally, we discussed practical advice on teaching gospel music to predominantly white choirs, emphasizing respect and immersion in the culture. It was a powerful and insightful conversation that I’m excited to share with you. Emorja also has picked up the torch Marques Garrett lit in year one of the show, and challenged me to go BACK to a predominantly Black church and keep learning!
Come to KC and Sing Next June!Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Emorja Roberson is the Assistant Professor of Music and African American Studies at Oxford College of Emory University.
He recently performed as the baritone soloist for Brahms’ Requiem at with the Notre Dame Children’s Choir where he also debuted his commissioned piece, “Joy, it’s on the Way,” under the direction of Mark Doerries. He has three published works, “Lord, I Am Grateful” with MorningStar Music Publishers, and two with GIA Music, “He’ll be With You” and “Seek Ye First,” which has been performed by the University of Arkansas Inspirational Chorale, Notre Dame Folk Choir, and South Bend Community Singers. He was selected as a 2023 Arts & Social Justice Fellow. This partnership between Emory Arts and the Ethics and the Arts program at Emory University of Ethics afforded the opportunity for Roberson to work with ASJ Fellow, Adán Bean, Spoken Word Poet, in the course, Black Church, Black Music at Oxford College. He recently served as the music director for the play, March on Washington, by Nikki Toombs, in partnership with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Roberson is a 2022 recipient of the Future of Music Faculty Fellowship with Cleveland Institute of Music which is a development initiative for Black and Latinx music professionals within academia.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
As a student of Mark Doerries and Stephen Lancaster, Roberson became the first African American to receive a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting (‘22) and a Master of Sacred Music in Vocal Performance (‘17) from the Sacred Music Department at the University of Notre Dame. His oratorio, BE-SPOKEN, highlights the experiences of the Black experience through jazz, hip-hop, and gospel. The 2022 debut cast consisted of Anthony Walker, King Chav, and Grammy-Award winner, Ledisi. He was awarded the 2021 Academic Freedom Award from the Department of Africana Studies and the 2022 Sr. Jean Lenz Award for his leadership that promotes a more diverse, inclusive campus community for all students. Roberson is also the founder of the talk show, Black@ND and the past director for the Voices of Faith Gospel Choir.
In 2019, he made his national debut on Season 9 of BET’s Sunday Best competition as a top 20 contestant and served as the choir director for Kathleen Battle’s The Underground Railroad: A Spiritual Journey tour with the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center at the University of Notre Dame.
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As a doctoral student, Roberson hosted the University of Notre Dame’s first Black History Month concert, UNSUNG, which featured artists in jazz, classical, and gospel, which included Callie Day, Isaac Cates, J.J. Wright, and Aalex Mansour. In March 2020, “Seek Ye First” from The Evening Musicale (2019), was featured on Sirius XM 64 (Kirk Franklin’s Praise).
In 2016, he debuted his piece, “Let’s Just Praise the Lord,” with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and was a featured soloist on Robert Kry’s, Paradiso: Transformation and Transfiguration and Mass for the Oppressed by Emerson Eads. He has premiered Evelyn Simpson Curenton’s “Sweet Lil Jesus” and was featured as the soloist for J.J. Wright’s O Emmanuel with the Notre Dame Children’s Choir. Under the direction of John Apeitos, Roberson was Duke Frederick in Roger Steptoe’s world-premiere opera of the Shakespeare play, As You Like It. As a master’s student in the Sacred Music Department at the University of Notre Dame, Roberson was a student of Dr. Stephen Lancaster and worked with world-renowned soprano, Deborah Voight, Carla Rae Cook, and J.J. Penna. Roberson recorded with Grammy Award Winner, Arturo Sandoval, for the Notre Dame Children’s Choir CD, Christmas at Notre Dame, as a soloist on “Frosty, the Snowman” with Matthew Kelly.
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Roberson graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance, where he studied with Krzysztof Biernacki. He has held lead roles in Die Zauberflöte, The Consul, The Mikado and La Bohème with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and performed as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah.
He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a charter member of the New Rock Chapter of 100 Black Men of America, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and a charter member of Psi Beta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity.
Episode 213: A Back to School Focus From the Convention Floor
Aug 30, 2024
Show notes
It’s Labor Day weekend. We are almost all back to school. This is the time that makes or breaks your whole school year. This summer I got a booth at the Missouri Choral Directors conference and pulled colleagues in to share their thoughts.
Why are adolescent boys so turned off by choir?
How important is music reading for All State choir?
Should majority white choirs sing Gospel and Spirituals?
Should sacred music be programmed in public schools?
What are the biggest problems in music education?
How should we be using technology tools to bring our teaching practice up to speed for the 21st century?
I sat down at the booth, and invited passersby to join me to weigh in on these questions. I ended up with a TREASURE trove of wisdom, ideas and helpful discussion to get teachers calibrated and focused! Special thanks to Carla Oliver, Stephen Rew, Chandler Cooper, Paige Wakefield, Rebecca Winn, Christine Jarquio, Brian Von Glahn, Courtney Williams, Lauren Tosh, Chris Boemler and Max Jackson.
I also asked them some questions about their earliest music class memories, but that’s for a future special project where I compare music teacher answers to “normal people” answers. Stay tuned!
Come to KC and Sing Next June!Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your own answers to the questions posed here on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.comGreat deals, speedy shipping, and back to school sales at SheetMusicPlus!
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Episode 212: Wrestling With Tradition with Craig Hella Johnson
Aug 23, 2024
Show notes
The “Choral Music Canon” is one of the many concepts that I believe can only be grappled with if we are able to hold two conflicting truths in mind. It is crucial for us to hold great art in high esteem, while recognizing that we won’t all agree on what makes the list.
Renowned American choral director Craig Hella Johnson joins me this week to give a master class of sorts related to programming philosophies as well as a peak behind the curtain of his ensemble, Conspirare.
In a conversation that delves into the heart of choral music, Craig and I discuss the transformative vision behind Conspirare, a chamber choir known for its virtuosic sound and diverse programming. We explore how creating a culture of mutual respect and shared responsibility in choral groups fosters a deeper connection to the music. The discussion also touches on the challenges of navigating the traditional Western choral canon, with us both agreeing on the need for a more inclusive approach that honors underrepresented voices while continuing to have a historical conversation to preserve the “great works” of our art form. Craig emphasizes the importance of honesty and student agency in teaching, advocating for a re-examination of classical music’s origins and the inclusion of diverse composers in programming.
Come to KC and Sing Next June!Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Known for his depth of knowledge, artistic sensitivity, and rich imagination, Craig Hella Johnson assembles some of the finest singers in the country to form a world-class, GRAMMY®-award-winning ensemble committed to creating relevant and dynamic choral art. Johnson is known for crafting musical journeys that create deep connections between performers and listeners.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
Johnson is beloved by audiences, revered by singers, and lauded by critics and composers. The Wall Street Journal praised his ability to “find the emotional essence other performers often miss,” and Fanfare wrote that “Craig Hella Johnson has assembled and molded a first-rate choir to be respected as highly as the best we have had.”
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Distinguished composer John Corigliano wrote, “I believe that [Johnson] has understood my music in a way that I have never experienced before. He is a great musician who understands everything about the music he conducts.” Composer and collaborator Robert Kyr observed, “Craig’s attitude toward creating a community of artists who work together to interpret the score … goes beyond technical mastery into that emotional depth and spiritual life of the music.”
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Known online as Babatunde “Hip Hopera,” this week’s guest may look like he is just out there having fun on TikTok. But, a closer look shows an artist doing innovative, and incredibly important work bridging the gaps between musical worlds.
From West Coast hip-hop fan to opera singer, this week’s guest Babtunde Akinboboye‘s journey is a fusion of genres and cultures that’s shaking up the music world. Kind of like kimchi on tacos…
His unique blend of opera with hip-hop beats, highlighted in a viral performance of of an aria mashed with Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble,” has earned him a dedicated social media following and sparked conversations about the future of classical music. In this podcast, Tunde and I explore how his work challenges the elitist perceptions of classical music and addresses the cultural barriers that make it feel inaccessible to many. We discuss the balance between preserving tradition and embracing change, the role of education in making classical music more inclusive, and the need to break down labels that segregate music by race. Our discussion offers fresh insights into how classical music can evolve to connect with a broader, more diverse audience.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have you r thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
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For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
A singer of diverse talents, Nigerian American Baritone, Babatunde Akinboboye is known for his enthralling stage presence. He has performed with the Los Angeles Opera, Opera San Jose, Opera Santa Barbara, Long Beach Opera, and Utah Opera. Babatunde has also debuted the roles of Drew in the Opera Works’Arts for Social Awareness Project’s world premiere production of The Discord Opera, and Zanni in the world premiere of Gloria Coates’ Stolen Identity. His most recent performances include Daggoo in LA Opera’s Moby Dick, Escamillo in Pacific Opera Project’s production of Carmen, and Lucha’s Father in The Industry’s production of Hopscotch.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
As an advocate for the performance of art song and operatic works written by African, and African American composers, Mr. Akinboboye has headlined the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry awards in Lagos, Nigeria performing a fusion of opera and traditional African music and has been a featured performer at both the National Association of Negro Musicians Annual Conference, as well as the African American Art Song Alliance Conference.
Babatunde’s honors include Regional Finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition, and finalist in the International Eisteddfod Vocal Solo Competition in Llangollen, Wales.
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In December of 2018, Babatunde combined his love of classical opera and hip hop and created the new genre Hip Hopera in a viral video that gained over 10 million views and was featured on Time.com, Classic FM, MSN.com and more. His debut EP “Della Citta” is now available.
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
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