TROY’s “InChoir” podcast, which explores choral music, the arts and life, returns for its fourth season Sept. 16.
A collaboration between the College of Arts & Humanities and TROY Public Radio, it is co-hosted by Dr. Diane Orlofsky, TROY Professor Emerita of Music and Music Education and Graduate Coordinator/Advisor for Music Education, and Dr. Scott Sexton, Assistant Professor of Music Education.
Orlofsky shared each season of “InChoir” has grown in the number of episodes produced and listeners reached.
“Our first season had 4 interviews and 4 years later, we have doubled in size,” she said. “Last season, we had listeners in over 35 countries and 45 states – again, very gratifying that what we are offering is filling a space in the podcast ecosystem. Having these heart-to-heart connections with composers of such caliber is truly special, and we never take that for granted.”
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Orlofsky also emphasized the podcast’s reach beyond its core audience.
“We are also reaching populations who may not have access to hearing these choral works, and that is part of our mission as well,” said Orlofsky. “Our production value is high, and we enjoy working with our colleagues on Troy Public Radio. We are delighted to offer a rich and meaningful Season 4 and listeners can find InChoir wherever they get their podcasts.”
Three episodes of the new season feature pairs of composers, offering multiple perspectives and broadening the range of compositions the show explores. The season will also highlight several new multi-movement works, giving newer compositions a spotlight they don’t always receive.
Sexton said the goal behind each season’s lineup is to give choral directors a place to find music their choirs can actually sing.
“It is our hope that high school choral directors, college choral directors, church choral directors, community choral directors can use the seasons of our podcasts as ‘menu’ when trying to look for new repertoire to sing with their choirs,” said Sexton. “In this way, they may be able to discover a new composer or realize that some choral music may be more accessible than they previously realized. By having this as one of our goals, our line-up of composers becomes organically diverse and complement each other nicely.”
Mia Sanchez, “InChoir’s” production assistant and a music education graduate student from Panama City, has been a fan of the podcast since the beginning.
“Even when I would listen to earlier episode releases, I always appreciated the different musical influences from each composer,” said Sanchez. “Now, I have really gotten a chance to learn how music can be communicated so differently from place to place and person to person. It’s truly fascinating and I love it all.”
In working behind the scenes, Sanchez got to know the guests of “InChoir” in a unique way.
“While Drs. Orlofsky and Sexton get to have a wonderful conversation with the guests, I get to know their speech patterns and their small quirks that makes them that much more relatable to me,” said Sanchez. “Though I’ve never spoken to any of the guests, I feel like I know them very well from these brief glimpses.”
Orlofsky said several goals drive the season’s composer selection process.
“Several goals drive our composer/musical work selection process,” she said. “For example, we love to introduce global voices to our list, as with our conversations with Juhi Bansal and Nadia Tarnawsky.”
Sexton said that variety extends to how those composers draw on their own traditions.
“It’s always really neat to feature composers who are using global music in their compositions in so many interesting and meaningful ways,” said Sexton.
Orlofsky said the lineup also makes room for newer names alongside established ones.
“We love to look for up-and-coming artists and were thrilled to interview two members of the group, Lyyra, and to feature several selections from their new CD, RISING,” she said. “And then, of course, we look for variety by including someone from the vocal jazz world and composers we have long admired. We also think it is important, as music educators, to program composers whose music can be relatable to our choral music education colleagues and even used with their classes. Striking this balance is key to our programming goals and objectives.”
Season four episodes
The titles and descriptions for each episode are as follows:
FROM SEA TO SKY – Episode 1 (September 16)
The music of Juhi Bansal draws upon culturally rich musical traditions to create expressive and evocative “sound-worlds”. As an Indian composer brought up in Hong Kong, her music draws upon both traditions and can be heard throughout our two featured pieces—”Fear (Becoming the Ocean)” and “Aurora” (Special thanks to the L.A. Choral Lab for sharing their performance recording of “Aurora”). Join us for our conversation with Juhi where we follow her musical journey “From Sea to Sky”.
LISTEN TO THE SILENCE – Episode 2 (September 23)
Frank Ticheli is best known for his works for wind ensemble and concert band, many of which have become standards in the repertoire. On this episode of InChoir, we feature how his choral compositions explore text through shifting color palettes and timbres. Join us as we trace how these evocative techniques can be heard in his two featured pieces – “Listen to the Silence” and “Earth Song”.
A UKRAINIAN WEDDING – Episode 3 (September 30)
Nadia Tarnawsky masterfully weaves Ukrainian cultural and musical traditions throughout her compositions as we will hear throughout A Ukrainian Wedding. In this conversation, we learn about her Ukrainian heritage and hear the rich musical contributions of this talented composer.
REFLECTIONS – Episode 4 (October 7th)
The American Choral Directors Association has awarded the Raymond W. Brock award for Student Composers since 1998 to recognize choral compositions of high quality. In this episode of InChoir, we talk to two composers who were Brock award recipients–Troy University’s own Michael Mills (2010, “Crossing the Bar”) and Patrick Vu (2023, “On the Hillside”). Each composer has gone on to also play important roles as conductors, music educators, and advocates for all things choral!
TOWARD THE LIGHT – Episode 5 (October 14th)
Dale Trumbore is a Los Angeles-based composer whose music has been praised by The New York Times for its “soaring melodies and beguiling harmonies”. Listeners will be impressed with her compositional versatility and breadth of vocal writing, from simple two-part to accessible and advanced settings for all types of choirs. Join us as we feature the charming “Lullaby for the Newly- Hatched” and the captivating and creative “Part of Me Hurtling Toward”.
GIVE ME THAT SMILE- Episode 6 (October 21st)
Matt Falker is a jazz and gospel pianist, vocalist, arranger, and founder and Director of the Oceanside Jazz Festival at MiraCosta College, where he also serves as a Professor. Matt is a champion for creating and advocating for accessible vocal jazz charts which can be seen in his publisher role with Anchor Music Publications (many thanks to Anchor Music for financially supporting this episode of InChoir). Today we feature two of Matt Falker’s vocal jazz arrangements, “Give me that Smile” and “Easy Love” that illustrate his creative versatility and multi-faceted artistry.
RISING – Episode 7 (October 28th)
At InChoir, we love to introduce new groups and debut collections like the one we feature in this episode. We will explore selections from a new album titled RISING, by a new choral group called LYYRA along with two of its members, Elizabeth Tait and Anna Crumley (who arranges one of the compositions as well). From classical to folk, jazz, and even pop-infused, there is truly something for every listener on this choral project, and all of it is told with unique and fresh arrangements for women’s voices.
I AM AS YOU ARE—Episode 8 (November 4th)
What do you get when two internationally known choral powerhouses join compositional forces? A stunning and beautiful, multi-movement choral work called Rose Ever Blooming. Listen to our conversation with both Jocelyn Hagen and Tim Takach as we unpack movements “Gabriel’s Message”, “Magnificat”, and “Beatitudes”.
“InChoir” is currently available through TROY Public Radio, NPR One, PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Player FM, Samsung Podcasts, Podchaser and Boomplay. Follow InChoir on Facebook and Instagram to find current and past episodes, featured composer profiles, and audio clips—then take a moment to share.
