Sounds Good

In this episode of Sounds Good by ChoirMate, Dr. Jaclyn Normandie talks with choral educator and drama teacher Myles Finn about authenticity, vulnerability, and the courage to be seen. His classroom videos brought the joy of choir to audiences around the world. Then he left the program he had built in Iowa and moved with his family to Croatia, trading a familiar role for the challenge of starting again. Together, Jaclyn and Myles explore what singers need before they can risk using their voices, why relationships matter more than accolades, and how humor can help a classroom feel safe. Myles shares the experience of freezing during a solo performance, the lesson he learned from trying to teach like someone else, and why being authentic never excuses being unkind. A conversation for anyone who leads, teaches, sings, or is learning to trust their own voice. About the guest: Myles Finn spent seven years as Choral Director at Indianola High School in Iowa before moving to Zagreb, Croatia, to teach drama. Known online as Mr. Finn, he shares his love of choir and musical theatre through classroom videos filled with humor and heart. Learn more: https://itsmrfinn.com Any thoughts? Contact us: [email protected]

In this episode of Sounds Good by ChoirMate, Dr. Jaclyn Normandie talks with executive recruiter Deb Horowitz, co-founder of Career Quarterback, about what really happens to a resume after you hit submit. They cover why referrals beat cold applications, the STAR method for behavioral interviews, and simple tools for interview anxiety. Deb traces the same networking logic into music, from workshop auditions to ensemble habits recruiters actually notice. A practical, honest conversation for anyone navigating a job search, an audition season, or a career crossroads. About the Guest: Deborah "Deb" Katz Horowitz is Principal of DLH Squared and has spent 33 years in recruiting, spanning banking, HR staffing, and executive search. She spent 11 years as an internal executive recruiter inside some of the most recognizable names in business: Amazon, AWS, Audible, Wayfair, and Peloton, where she joined during its hyper-growth phase. She previously founded Continuiti, an executive search firm she built to over $9 million in revenue. In 2013, she co-founded Career Quarterback, coaching young professionals through their first job search, and today she works with private equity portfolio companies while volunteering her time coaching women returning to the workforce. Deb holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Michigan. Learn more: https://careerquarterback.com and https://dlhsquared.com Any thoughts? Contact us: [email protected]

In this episode of Sounds Good by ChoirMate, Dr. Jaclyn Normandie sits down with Dr. Donald Brinegar, a conductor, voice pedagogue, and author whose work has shaped generations of singers and conductors. Together they explore what it really means to lead from honesty rather than ego. Don makes the case that the human voice is an endlessly flexible instrument, that the most useful thing a leader can cultivate is self-awareness instead of self-consciousness, and that the angry leader is almost always a leader who simply does not have the information they need. From a gospel choir that transformed a Palestrina motet in ten minutes, to the fifth-grade moment that shaped his whole philosophy of teaching, to the mentor who taught him to hear a result before he ever saw it, this is a conversation about presence, play, and the quiet art of being a good mirror. Whether you lead from a podium, a classroom, a boardroom, or a kitchen table, you will walk away rethinking where a leader actually belongs. About Dr. Donald Brinegar: Dr. Donald Brinegar is a conductor, tenor soloist, voice instructor, educator, and master class clinician. Professor Emeritus of Music at Pasadena City College, he directed the Choral Studies program at PCC for 36 years. He also conducts the Donald Brinegar Singers, a community choral ensemble in Pasadena, California; serves as Director of Choruses for the Pasadena Symphony and POPS; and is an adjunct professor of voice at PCC. During the summers, he is an adjunct professor of conducting and voice in the Cal State Los Angeles master’s program in choral conducting. His books on choral music include Pitch Perfect: A Theory and Practice of Choral Intonation, Conducting Primer: Seven Principles of Choral Conducting, and Conducting Primer in Practice. Learn more about Dr. Donald Brinegar: https://donaldbrinegarsingers.com/about/ Any thoughts? Contact us: [email protected]

In this episode of Sounds Good by ChoirMate, Dr. Jaclyn Normandie speaks with Dr. Deb Confredo, past president of the National Association for Music Education, professor at Temple University, and a 44-year veteran music educator. They explore a truth that lives at the heart of every ensemble: a leader's real job transcends the notes on the page. Together they discuss building culture and community, the shift from "mine" to "ours" that lets an ensemble survive a change in leadership, and why deep preparation is what frees a conductor to listen, create, and connect. From a hair-raising story of being asked to conduct a concert with three days' notice to the quiet power of sharing joy, this conversation offers guidance for anyone who leads people, whether on a podium, in a classroom, in a boardroom, or at home. About Dr. Deborah A. Confredo: Dr. Deborah A. Confredo is Professor of Music Education and Director of Online Graduate Studies at Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance, and a 44-year veteran music educator. She served as National President of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) from 2024 to 2026. She is the founder of Temple's Night Owls Campus/Community Band, which launched the university's community music outreach program, and is a past conductor of the Philadelphia All-City High School Band. A past Chair of the NAfME Society for Research in Music Education and of the Music Teacher Profession Initiative, she co-authored A Blueprint for Strengthening the Music Teacher Profession. She is also lead author of the band method Measures of Success (FJH Music) and co-author of The Complete Woodwind Instructor. She has taught at the elementary and secondary levels and is in constant demand as a clinician, adjudicator, guest conductor, and lecturer across the nation. She resides in Louisiana, where she is active in the Louisiana Music Educators Association. Contact Dr. Deb Confredo: [email protected] Any thoughts? Contact us: [email protected]

In this episode of Sounds Good by ChoirMate, Dr. Jaclyn Normandie speaks with Tori Longdon, Associate Chorus Director of the London Philharmonic Choir and Principal Conductor of the Covent Garden Chorus. They explore a truth many conductors discover early: leadership often arrives before confidence or expertise fully develops. Together they discuss how musicians can grow authority while still learning, lead ensembles with clarity, and manage the inner experience of impostor syndrome. From embodied leadership to practical rehearsal strategies, this conversation offers guidance for anyone stepping into leadership before they feel completely ready. Any thoughts? Contact us: [email protected]

In this episode of Sounds Good, Dr. Jaclyn Normandie speaks with conductor and educator Dr. Pearl Shangkuan about the real pressures women face in music and beyond—navigating career, family, and the persistent myth of “having it all.” Together, they explore burnout, brain development, the role of choice, and what it means to define success on your own terms. Any thoughts? Contact us: [email protected]

Was choral singing truly better in the past — or are we misreading what has changed? In this episode of Sounds Good, host Dr. Jaclyn Normandie speaks with Danish choral conductor and educator Jonas Rasmussen about nostalgia, quality, participation, and the evolving role of choral music in a globalized world. Drawing from his work as an artistic director, academy professor, and digital educator, Jonas offers a clear-eyed perspective on what has been lost, what has been gained, and what the future of choral singing may actually hold. This conversation invites conductors, singers, and educators to honor tradition without letting it limit what's possible next. Discover more about Jonas Rasmessen at: https://jonasrasmussen.dk/ Any thoughts? Contact us: [email protected]

In this episode of Sounds Good, host Dr. Jaclyn Normandie speaks with Dr. Edith Copley about how music transcends technical skill to foster human connection and community. From leading choirs on international trips to exposing students to global singing cultures, Dr. Copley emphasizes the transformative role of music in building empathy and collaboration. She also discusses innovative initiatives by ACDA and collaborators aimed at supporting choral conductor wellness—addressing vocal, musculoskeletal, auditory, and mental health. New directors will gain valuable advice on networking, staying physically active, and developing listening skills to engage their choirs more deeply. Whether you're a conductor, musician, or music lover, this episode offers practical tools, inspiration, and a fresh perspective on the joy and responsibility of making music. Any thoughts? Contact us: [email protected]

AI can mimic voices and generate entire performances — but can it ever replace the magic of a choir? In Part Two of our Future of Choir mini-series, host Dr. Jaclyn Normandie is joined again by Chris Eanes, President and CEO of Chorus America, to explore what makes singing together fundamentally human. From the breath we share to the silence between notes, this episode asks: in an AI-saturated world, why will the human voice always win? Discover more about Dr. Eanes and Chorus American at: https://chorusamerica.org Any thoughts? Contact us: [email protected]

In this episode of Sounds Good, host Dr. Jaclyn Normandie welcomes Chris Eanes, President & CEO of Chorus America, for a deep dive into the claim that "classical music is dying." Where did this idea come from, and why does it keep resurfacing? Is the narrative actually true — or does choral music offer a radically different story? Across three themes, Jaclyn and Chris unpack the resilience of choirs, the cultural role they play as community "third spaces," and why choral music might be uniquely positioned to thrive in the future. They explore whether a "living canon" is still forming today, which composers might stand the test of centuries, and how choirs can honor tradition while embracing the repertoire of right now. This conversation reframes the future of choir as vibrant, evolving, and deeply human. Topics Covered: • Why the "death of classical music" narrative persists • How choral music differs from other classical institutions • Choir as a community anchor and third space • Why choirs shouldn't compare themselves to orchestras • The emergence of a living choral canon • Balancing tradition with contemporary relevance Next Episode: Part Two of The Future of Choir explores the intersection of choral music and technology — including whether AI can ever rival the experience of singing together. Any thoughts? Contact us: [email protected]