Sharing the Podium

I had the great joy last week of leading a rehearsal of the Lincoln Lutheran Choir and having Tom Trenney as a guest clinician at the Lincoln Choral Artists rehearsal.



Most every week, Mandy Swanson, our assistant director, does some rehearsal with the choir and our Choral Scholar helps with sectionals. I hand over the reigns and trust the hands of others often. I have shared my love and joy of choral music with ensembles that I have been invited to work with many times. And, like last Thursday, I have had the opportunity to watch colleagues, friends, and mentors work with ensembles I lead.

Each of these experiences is a growth moment for me, for the choirs I work with regularly, and the choirs I have visited. The strength of the choral ensemble comes from the "connectedness" we share in a common experience together. Our individual voices, strengths, and personalities join to become a new thing every week and every performance. Singers have the opportunity to grow by experiencing many conductors and leaders. Singers perspectives can change about the community of music that surrounds them as the world opens a little wider. I know that's how I have felt both as a singer in choirs and as a director "watching from the sidelines."

I am so very excited to watch the collaborations, conducting, leadership, and singing at our fall concert. I am proud to have 2 fabulous conductors with me on stage, Brett Epperson with LLC, and Mandy Swanson with LCA and Sacred Arts Home School Choir.