Choral History: A Podcast With Josh Bronfman

If you’ve ever seen her run a rehearsal you are familiar with the incredible combination of ferocity, passion, liveliness, and extraordinary musicianship that is Elena Sharkova. Fresh off her engagement with the BBC Singers, Josh and Elena meet to talk on the day of her guest appearance with the Houston Chamber Choir, where she led a program of Russian music. They cover her unusual path to professional conducting, the conducting education program in Russia, and what it’s really like to lead a professional choir.

Few loom as large in influence as Dr. Judy Bowers, former professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University and soon to be Biedenharn Chair in Music at at University of Louisiana Monroe. A humble southerner with impeccable credentials, her influence on the training of choral music educators in the United States is close to unparalleled. Josh talks to her at his old place of work, and with a wicked cold, but the conversation manages to shed some light on Judy’s path, her grounded focus on work and family, and inevitably, what it means to be a woman in this profession. Listen to this fascinating conversation with another huge influence in the choral world.

If you don’t know Tim Sharp, the dynamic and charismatic Executive Director of ACDA, you are missing out. Tim is a man of many talents, a raconteur, a gadfly, and just a ton of fun to hang out with. Tim has a really interesting story and knows how to tell it with humor and insight. Not only that, but Tim has real vision about what ACDA is and what he wants ACDA to become in the future. This interview with Tim took place in 2016 at the North Central ACDA conference in South Dakota, on the top floor of the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls, and covers the gamut from some impromptu singing, to the future of choral music in America. Come hear Josh and Tim solve all the world’s choral problems.0

In case you didn’t know, Dominick DiOrio, Associate Professor at Indiana University and conductor of NOTUS Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, is a young dude. Younger than you. And probably more accomplished than you too. So let that sink in and make you feel old and unworthy. But seriously, Dominick is a great conductor, composer, and all around nice person. This is Josh’s second interview in Sweden, which took place at the Scandinavian Choral Conference in Malmö, and he and Dominick talk about all sorts of issues, ultimately deciding that the next ACDA conference should be run entirely in German. Hope you enjoy this conversation.

On a visit to the choral mecca of Sweden, Josh spends some time with the amazing Gary Graden, conductor of the St. Jakob’s Chamber Choir (one of the best amateur choirs in the world). Josh and Gary talk about his background, how he came to call Sweden his home, and of course Eric Ericson. Listen to the idilic sounds of the Swedish countryside rushing by (and also some Swedish girls texting and playing cards), as Josh interviews Gary on the train from Kalmar to Stockholm after a gig. Be warned that you’ll want to visit Sweden after listening to this episode…and also be warned that you should definitely go!

Choral History is back from the dead! Josh briefly discusses the effects of life on podcast production and previews upcoming episodes.

Josh and Randy share a common upbringing: both were slightly wayward students and late comers to choral music. But that’s where the similarities end. Randy talks about the growth and success of the incredible music program the he and his wife Rachel lead at St. Mary's International School in Tokyo, Japan. In particular, Randy's High School men's group the Varsity Ensemble, has performed at multiple national and regional ACDA conventions. Josh and Randy talk about a lot of things, including how the Stensons grew the program at St. Mary's, and Randy responds to a common criticism of his approach to performing. This to this fun conversation with a great guy and wonderful conductor and educator.

The incomparable Rod Eichenberger is Josh's guest in this week's episode. Rod has led programs at the University of Washington, USC, and Florida State University. For mere mortals, leading just one of those programs would be a major accomplishment. Many of the current top conductors in the American choral scene studied with Rod over the years, and the conversation covers just how far reaching his influence has been. Josh even studied with him at Florida State University, and they talk about just how goofy Josh was as an undergrad. They also cover a broad range of topics including how to be supportive of colleagues, who not to tick off in your work, and how Rod developed his singular and influential approach to teaching conducting. Listen to this great conversation with a true legend in the choral world.

This episode continues Josh's trip down his memory lane, and he finally gets to the source. Josh talks to Doree Jarboe, his former high school choir director and leader of one of the most popular high school choir programs in the northwest in the 1990s and early 2000s. Learn about her remarkable journey teaching at pretty much every level and every conceivable type of student, and how her program become so successful. You'll also hear about Mr. Holland's Opus being filmed in Doree's choir room, her inclusive philosophy of music education, and Josh's early years as a "lost soul." In an especially meaningful conversation, this episode is one you won’t want to miss!

This episode Josh talks to Bruce Browne, emeritus professor from Portland State University, as well as former conductor of Choral Cross-Ties and the Portland Symphonic Choir. Bruce’s influence in the American choral scene is extensive, and Josh had the good fortune of studying with Bruce early in his career. Listen as Bruce spins yarns about his experiences with some of the great choral conductors of our time, including Robert Shaw and Eric Ericson, and talks unassumingly about his journey to becoming one of the most widely respected choral conductors in the US. This interview is the second in a series of interviews done in Josh’s hometown of Portland, Oregon.

Josh goes back to his roots when he travels to Portland, Oregon, where he grew up and had his first experiences with choral music. In this episode, the first of a number of “Portland” episodes, Josh talks with Ethan Sperry, who took over the choral program at Portland State University where Josh attended many years ago. We learn about Ethan’s rich experiences as a young musician in New York and how he came to this profession. Ethan and Josh also talk about the nature of conducting, the unique aspects of men’s choirs, and go deep into the nature of Ethan’s philosophies of musical motivation and inspiration.

Steve Zielke from Oregon State University is one of Josh’s early mentors. Steve and Josh talk about a million things, including performing esoteric music, singing for your father, strategic planning, how Steve septupled his music department, mentorship, and the fact that no one will ever listen to this podcast. Later, Steve makes an offer to the listeners that they definitely cannot refuse.

This episode I talk to Brian Schmidt, conductor of the South Dakota Chorale and Duke University Chapel at National ACDA in Salt Lake City, 2015.

Josh has an unusual connection to Cameron LaBarr, the newest DCA at Missouri State University, and and when they talk about it, Josh learns a little about genealogy in the process. They also explore Cameron’s background, what it’s like to take over a strong program, and what the future holds at MSU.

In this week’s episode Josh visits Lee Nelson at Wartburg College in Iowa. Josh and Lee talk about pretty much everything under the sun in this wide-ranging and lively interview. Josh learns about Lee’s pedagogical ideas on conducting and building tone, his connection to North Dakota, and also discovers how Yoda encouraged Lee to take the job at Wartburg.

Matt Ferrell from St. Cloud State University is a super nice guy, and a great choir director. Josh and Matt talk about his background and why you shouldn’t go to graduate school for a girl. They also explore how Matt builds tone, and Josh reveals that he sort of hates madrigal dinners. This is the fourth episode of the Choral History Podcast with Josh Bronfman.

In Episode 3 of the Choral History Podcast with Josh Bronfman, Brad Sherwood and his father Ken sit down with Josh to further explore the 70+ years of the Sherwood family choral legacy in Grand Forks, North Dakota. We talk about Ken’s father, Dwight, who started teaching in Grand Forks in 1942, how the Sherwood tradition developed, and all the important choir folks that have interacted with the Sherwoods over the years.

Episode 2 of the Choral History Podcast with Josh Bronfman finds Josh and his buddy Matt Mehaffey from the University of Minnesota talking shop. They have a lot in common, but in this interview they discover that they actually have pretty different aesthetics and philosophies about choral music. Also, Matt tells a great story about one of his most infamous All-State conducting experiences.

Welcome to the premiere episode of the Choral History Podcast with Josh Bronfman. In Episode 1, Josh sits down with third generation high school choir director Brad Sherwood. Hear his family’s incredible story, and marvel at Josh’s ineptitude with technology. Thanks for listening to this first episode, and we hope you’ll join us for more.