InChoir

02/19/2025

Exciting update regarding conductor, Sarah Kaufold (our conversation with her about her work with Voices of Concinnity and her album project, Awaiting Golden Light was featured in Episode 4 (TAPESTRY) of Season 2 of InChoir). Here is what Sarah shared with InChoir when we asked about the 2026 event:

"I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to present and conduct a beautiful and compelling choral-orchestral work by composer, Elaine Hagenberg, on the stage at Carnegie Hall in May of 2026. "Illuminare" is not only accessible to a range of choral singers, but is a stunning representation of the text, nuanced in the harmonic writing, and fulfilling for the singer and listener. The community choir I direct had the opportunity to learn this work last spring and it quickly became a favorite of the singers. Performing with an orchestra on such an iconic stage is a core memory experience that I hope singers from across the country will sign up to bring this work to life with me."

Haven't heard our original conversation with Sarah and composer, Cheryl B. Engelhardt? Give it a listen, and a hearty congratulations, Sarah, from InChoir.

02/14/2025

In Season two of InChoir, we featured a double-header with composer, arranger, and vocalist, Blake Morgan. If you haven't heard the two episodes (titled REIMAGINATION 1 and 2), go listen now and consider it a Valentine's gift to YOURSELF! Only have time for one song? Here is an arrangement of "I'll be there" that Blake wrote for VOCES8 and the Ringmasters. Thanks for your continued support of InChoir (find a Valentine and share an episode with them today!) and thanks, Blake Morgan, for enriching our lives with your music! ❤️❤️

VOCES8 and the Ringmasters collaborate to sing Blake Morgan’s new arrangement of The Jackson 5 classic ‘I’ll be there’.

01/29/2025

As plans for Season three unfold (stay tuned for some exciting previews in weeks to come!), we want to circle back to one of our featured composers from Season 1, Dr. Terre Johnson. In episode 4 ("A Grief Expressed"), we heard his personal and moving backstory to the composition, "Yet She Doth Shine". If you haven't heard this episode (which also features Dr. Jeffrey Ames), give it a listen!

Here is another composition Johnson wrote for Christmas at Luther College ("Of the Father's Love Begotten," 2018). We encourage you to pause for five minutes along with InChoir to listen to this beautiful piece (link in the comments). And thanks for liking, following and sharing InChoir!

01/04/2025

To celebrate the New Year, InChoir will be shining a spotlight on each of our past featured composers, their episodes, as well as recommending another piece for your New Year playlist!

Our inaugural InChoir episode featured the wonderful multi-movement piece, SACRED PLACE, by composer Alex Berko. Wind your InChoir clock all the way back to season 1, episode 1 and give it a listen- our conversation with Alex and the excerpts from SACRED PLACE are sure to inspire!

Want more? Listen to Alex's 2022 piece "You Through Me". You can read Alex's program notes as well (link provided in the comments). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-FfSxNd_j0

12/20/2024

Happy holidays from all of us at InChoir!

The holidays are a perfect time to catch up on Season 2! So if you want to hear a festive tune or two, check out Sarah Quartel's Episode 1 conversation about “Iesous ahatonnia” (an adaptation of The Huron Carol) or Greg Jasperse's story behind his choral arrangement of the seasonal favorite, “Lo, how a Rose E’er Blooming" (in Episode 2).

We have reached 225 followers to this page and would love to see many more! Please share InChoir with your family, friends and fellow choristers and keep checking back here in 2025 when we will provide hints/teasers about Season 3, highlight follow-ups with our Season 1 and 2 featured composers as well as other bonus material!

THANK YOU for listening to InChoir and for joining our conversations about choral music, the arts and life! We appreciate YOU!

12/14/2024

12/11/2024

The InChoir team is thrilled to be able to share a two-part episode (titled Reimagination 1 & Reimagination 2) featuring composer/arranger/singer, Blake Morgan (hosted by Diane Orlofsky). Morgan’s music crosses genres and has been performed by Take Six, the King's Singers, Manhattan Transfer, Conspirare, and many others. Also a gifted singer, Blake is a member of Voces8, whose performances we often feature on this podcast. https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1231610483/in-choir-conversations-about-choral-music-the-arts-and-life

REIMAGINATION 1
In this first episode, Morgan talks about the process of taking music which is familiar and arranging it so that it sounds brand new. We explore how Morgan reimagined the familiar hymntune, “Shall we Gather at the River” (performed by Voces8 and the Ringmasters) and the evocative Scottish folk ballad, “Caledonia” (sung here by Voces8 and the Stay-at-Home Choir.)

REIMAGINATION 2
As we heard in Reimagination 1, Blake Morgan’s musical arrangements embody the essence of what it means to “imagine again or anew.” In Reimagination 2, we learn how Morgan works in this unique creative space when he conceives his arrangements. This episode features Morgan’s arrangement of the iconic “Hushabye Mountain” (performed by the King’s Singers) and his setting of the beautiful folk song, “The Water is Wide” (featuring Blake’s demo of the arrangement he wrote for Take Six). We even “tease” a brand-new setting of “Time after Time” (performed by Lyyra and Voces8).

InChoir is a production of Troy Public Radio and the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Troy University. You can find InChoir wherever you get your podcasts.

12/05/2024

12/04/2024

Episode 4 (TAPESTRY) is now available!

In this episode, co-hosts Diane Orlofsky and Scott Sexton speak with two creatives connected to the recording project AWAITING GOLDEN LIGHT (performed by Connecticut-based Voices of Concinnity). First, composer Cheryl B. Engelhardt (whose composition, “The Breadth of Blossoms” was featured on the album) relates the fascinating story behind this captivating and timely music. We also hear how Artistic Director Sarah Kaufold advocates for inclusion on the podium, within the choral ensemble and in the choir repertoire.

InChoir is a production of Troy Public Radio and the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Troy University.

11/29/2024

Spend some post-Thanksgiving time with "she was wilderness" and Katerina Gimon

11/27/2024

Episode three has launched (BOUNDLESS)

In this episode of InChoir, co-hosts Diane Orlofsky and Scott Sexton speak with Canadian composer, Katerina Gimon, about her choral composition “she was wilderness” (performed by the Vancouver Chamber Choir). Join us as we explore Gimon’s music which has been called eclectic and dynamic. Learn how she draws from many musical styles and takes the listener through layered textures, intense emotions and shared human experiences.

InChoir is a production of Troy Public Radio and the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Troy University.

11/22/2024

11/22/2024

EPISODE 2
SONIC JOURNEYS

In this InChoir episode, host Diane Orlofsky talks to composer/arranger/singer, Greg Jasperse, who is also the Director of Vocal Jazz at Western Michigan University. Together they explore the stories behind his choral arrangement of the seasonal favorite, “Lo, how a Rose E’er Blooming,” (performed by members of the WMU Chorale) as well as his original vocal jazz composition, “I am Alive” (sung by the WMU Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Gold Company). Jasperse also discusses how music can support and facilitate spaces where we can listen to and learn about other people.

InChoir is a production of Troy Public Radio and the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Troy University.

(Link in the comments; Pictures feature Co-Host Diane Orlofsky, frequency and Jasperse in 2010 and Jasperse working with at Troy University John M. Long School of Music in 2019).

11/22/2024

11/22/2024

IN HER IMAGE - Season 2, Episode 1

On this episode of InChoir, co-hosts Diane Orlofsky and Scott Sexton speak with Canadian composer and educator, Sarah Quartel, about her fresh and exciting approach to choral music. Quartel believes that choral music is all about relationships, connections, storytelling, and honoring all voices, including the audience members who hear her music. We feature two of her compositions— “Iesous ahatonnia” (an adaptation of The Huron Carol, sung by the London Voices) and “Water Mother” (from her larger work, Song of the Stars, performed by the Singing Girls of Texas).

InChoir is a production of Troy Public Radio and the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Troy University. Link to podcast in comments.

11/20/2024

Welcome to the official page for InChoir! Follow us for new content, glimpses behind-the-scenes, exciting updates about past featured composers, and more!

We invite you to listen to InChoir: Conversations about Choral Music, the Arts and Life. Produced in the studios of Troy Public Radio, co-hosts Diane Orlofsky and Scott Sexton go directly to choral composers to learn how they explore sound, universal texts, and shared human experiences in their choral compositions—to hear the ‘stories behind their songs.’

You can find the podcast by going to https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1231610483/in-choir-conversations-about-choral-music-the-arts-and-life (also available on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Boomplay and Podbean).

InChoir is a podcast about choral music, the arts, and life. In each episode, we share our love of choral music with you and give voice to the composers and creatives who make it.