“No one cared about my accolades coming in as a freshman. It’s not enough just to be good, because everyone is good. It forced me not to ride on my natural ability and to buckle down to figure out things like theory, music history, and performance practice. It made me realize that being an individual is paramount, and you have to prove why you are different from everyone else. What about your ability to emote a song or interpret a piece is going to set you apart?”

Trey McLaughlin was born in Augusta, GA, where he graduated from John S. Davidson Magnet School in 2002. While in high school, Trey was a member of the non-profit performing arts organization, Creative Impressions, serving as both President and Student Director.

Trey is a 2008 graduate of Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music in Columbus, GA. During his time at CSU, Trey was a member of its University Singers and Chorale. Trey is a member and past president of the professional music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and he is a former director of G.E.N.E.S.I.S. -- the Columbus State University Gospel Choir. In May of 2008, Mr. McLaughlin obtained a Bachelor of Science in Music Performance with an emphasis in Vocal Pedagogy.

In 2014, Mr. McLaughlin began his international career, conducting a Master Class and performing at the L’Opéra de Massy in Massy, France. In October of 2015, Trey conducted a 300-voice choir in Krakow, Poland, as the guest clinician of the annual 7x Festival. At home, Trey has been extended the honor of serving as the guest clinician for Honor Choruses throughout the state of Georgia.

Trey is a passionate solo vocalist -- recognizing the beauty of and fusing together an eclectic mix of musical genres for all those who encounter his artistry. He composes and performs original works and prolifically arranged covers with his own recording and touring ensemble, The Sounds of Zamar.

Trey currently serves as Director of Worship and Arts at Tabernacle Baptist Church of Augusta, Georgia, where he stewards and oversees 12 ministries and approximately 250 volunteers. Mr. McLaughlin has taught as adjunct faculty at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, teaching graduate level courses where he continues his passion for writing and arranging music, teaching piano, and conducting classes in vocal technique. Trey was recognized by the Augusta Arts Council as its 2018 Artist of the Year. His international, national and local work in the arts continues to provide rich cultural, artistic experiences for all who encounter his programming.

To get in touch with Trey, you can visit treymclaughlin.com or find him on Facebook (@trey.mclaughlin.503) or Instagram (@treymclaughlin)

Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.

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“In Indonesia, choral singing has just been really popular recently, maybe around ten years. It has become a lifestyle. Everyone wants to be part of a choir because choir is very interesting - you can go on tour, you can do concerts... What drives the choir most is joining a competition: they will have a goal they want to achieve, an opportunity to go abroad, building connection and building the ecosystem better to support each other.”

Hailing from Medan, composer Ken Steven (b. 1993) is known for his fusion of Indonesian colours and elements with modern techniques and harmonies. He received his undergraduate degree in church music from The Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music, Philippines, and completed his Master of Music degree from California Baptist University, USA.

Since returning to Indonesia, his creative activity and work have made important contributions to the development of choral music in Indonesia. His music is picking up and starting to make an impact on the international choral music scene. His music is available through several publishers including Pavane, Hal Leonard, Earthsongs, and Walton.

Currently, he serves as the Director of Studies at SMK Methodist Charles Wesley Music Vocational School in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. He is also the conductor of Medan Community Male Choir, founded in 2015, and has led the choir to achieve many international awards in choral festivals and competitions.

To get in touch with Ken, you can email him at st.25_ken@hotmail.com or find him on Facebook (@ken.steven) or Instagram (@st.25ken).

Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.

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“As choral conductors, we're first and foremost educators, and we have to realize that we have to come with compassion in everything that we do when we listen to choirs. All too often we sit there thinking, ‘the intonation wasn't so great, or maybe their phrase endings could be better,’ but we don't understand what people are working with. No two choirs are the same. No choir operates in the same context.”

Dr. Michael Joseph Barrett is the conductor of the University of Pretoria (Tuks) Camerata and a senior lecturer in Choral Conducting in the Department of Music. He obtained the degrees BMus in Performing Arts and MMus (Performing Arts), specializing in choral conducting, in 2008, both from the University of Pretoria. He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and a Performance Licentiate in Singing, both received in 2008, from Unisa. In 2017, Michael was awarded a Doctorate of Music degree (Performing Arts) in Choral Performance by the University of Pretoria.

Michael’s choirs have won numerous national and international awards, as well as choral competitions all over the world, including the Grand Prix of Nations; the 8th World Choir Games; the St Petersburg Choral Competition; the Llangollen (Shlangoshlen) International Musical Eisteddfod (ICEtedfud); and the International Youth Music Festival. In 2017, Tuks Camerata was invited to perform at the World Choral Symposium in Barcelona, Spain.

The choir has released three CDs, which were all nominated for South African Music Awards. In March, the Tuks Camerata will perform as an invited choir to the National ACDA Conference in Dallas.

Michael is an active composer and arranger whose music is published internationally by Santa Barbara Music Publishers and Walton Music. He is regularly invited to present workshops and adjudicate choral competitions both locally and abroad. He is also the executive director and co-producer of Capital Singers, South Africa’s largest community choir project.

To get in touch with Michael, you can email him or find him on Instagram (@mbarrett1310) or Facebook (@michael.j.barrett.54). You can also visit the Tuks Camerata website or follow them on Instagram (@tuks_camerata), Facebook (@UPCamerata), or YouTube (@universityofpretoriacamera357). To support the Tuks Camerata's travel to National ACDA 2025, visit their funding website.

Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.

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Dr. David Fryling is director of choral activities at Hofstra University, where he conducts both the select Hofstra Chorale and Hofstra Chamber Choir and teaches beginning and advanced studies in choral conducting, as well as graduate-level studies in choral conducting and choral literature. In addition, he is an adjunct professor for the Hofstra School of Education, and has served as music director and conductor of the Hofstra Opera Theater. In fall 2014 David was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame as the “Educator of Note” in recognition of his years of leadership in the Long Island music education community, and in the spring of 2017 David was named the winner of the American Prize in Conducting in two categories: community chorus and college & university.

In fall 2013 David founded the eVoco Voice Collective, a nonprofit organization of singers of the highest musical, technical, and expressive abilities, who together believe in the transformative and educational power of music.

From 2007 to 2013, David served as coordinator of the Vocal Artists program at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, where he was conductor and music director of the World Youth Honors Choir and Festival Choir & Orchestra.

Before his appointment at Hofstra, David served as music director and conductor of the University of Michigan Arts Chorale and assistant conductor of the Michigan Chamber Singers, University Choir, and the internationally acclaimed Michigan Men’s Glee Club. While in Ann Arbor, he was also the music director and conductor of the Michigan Youth Women’s Chorus, a year-round all-state honors choir composed of select high school sopranos and altos from across Michigan.

In addition to his professional teaching and conducting responsibilities, David is the current President of the American Choral Directors Association.

To get in touch with Dave, you can find him on Facebook (@david.fryling) or Instagram (@davidnfryling) or email him at david.n.fryling@hofstra.edu or Dfryling@acda.org.

Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.

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“A lot of what I end up teaching with regards to all of music, but certainly improvisation, has to do with becoming comfortable. You can do all kinds of different technical exercises, improvisation exercises, conceptual brain project exercises, all of which serve to help the musician become comfortable and fluid with their musical expression so that they feel free enough to act on a musical impulse or a musical gesture, to respond freely to the moment.”

The first year of the pandemic was a deeply creative time for Vermont based fiddle composer and song-writer Lissa Schneckenburger. When everything shut down (including her touring schedule), writing music became an essential outlet. Schneckenburger explains, “I had to write music to process my experience of living through such a difficult time. It was my life line”. The result was what Schneckenburger jokingly calls “overflowing bucketfuls of music” and enough new material for several album releases. The first album, Falling Forward, is a collection of Schneckenburger’s original fiddle tunes and two traditional New England songs, released in March 2023.

Lissa hired a star powered all female cast of musicians to record her compositions, and Falling Forward was recorded in December of 2022. The ensemble included fiddling producer Katie McNally, pianist Rachel Aucoin, bass player Mali Obomsawin, cellist Natalie Haas, and accordion player Karen Tweed. “These women are my heroes,” Schneckenburger says, “they are leaders in the acoustic music world, and it was such an honor to record with them.” The tunes range from lively to somber and introspective. Many reflect the tone of a riotous fiddle party with floorboards thumping, bow hair flying, and instruments and dancers in every corner. Falling Forward provides music for both meditation and release. Both of which feel appropriate in processing our collective experience as a society over the last few years.

During the past few decades, Schneckenburger has made music showcasing everything from traditional dance tunes, to original songs. The latter inspired by her experience as a foster and adoptive parent. Falling Forward has blended her love of traditional music with her love of writing, in her first fiddle forward album release in over a decade.

To get in touch with Lissa, you can find visit her website, https://lissafiddle.com/, or find her on Instagram (@lissafiddle), Facebook (@lissafiddle), or Tiktok (@lissafiddle).

Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.

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“That's my job: to take the foundation of what they have – love of singing and basic vocal technique – and then just refine it, to challenge them to start being more musical artists themselves. I personally do a lot of giving the kids choices: ‘If it's not in the music, how do we want to sing this? What are your thoughts?’ We listen, we reflect. I really want them to have ownership of what we're doing.”

Karla McClain (she/her) is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescent/Young Adulthood Music in her 24th year of teaching. Currently, she teaches Choir and General Music at Illing Middle School in Manchester, CT. Prior to teaching in Manchester, Karla taught at Irving A. Robbins Middle School and East Farms Elementary in Farmington, CT, in West Hartford, CT and Hilliard, OH. She also is the former director of the Canticum Choir of the Connecticut Children’s Chorus at the Hartt School of Music, Community Division. Karla is also an active staff member at Laurel Music Camp in Plymouth, Connecticut. Karla is an active presenter and clinician and has presented for state, regional, and national conferences. Her choirs have been Featured Showcase Ensembles for the CMEA State Conference. Karla has served on the Diversity Initiatives Committee of CT-ACDA and was the Co-Chair of Middle School Repertoire and Resources. She is a past member of the Professional Development Committee for CMEA. She is a frequent adjudicator for Regionals and All-State. As a performer, she has remained active by singing as a soloist and section leader, currently with the South Church Chancel Choir in New Britain. She has also performed in several musical theater groups. Karla received her Bachelor of Music in education from Ohio Wesleyan University, and her Master of Science in Music Education from Central Connecticut State University. In 2021, she was selected as the CT- ACDA Choral Director of the Year. She has a passion for using music technology and global music to engage students. She lives in Cromwell, CT with her husband and 2 children.

To get in touch with Karla, you can find her on Instagram (@karlachips) or Twitter (@karlachips).

Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.

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“My goal is that no child will leave my classroom thinking they can't sing. If I have a coworker say, ‘I can't sing,’ I'm like, ‘no, no. First, give me 15 minutes and a piano and I will show you that you can. Second, you can't say that because if you say that, then the kids think it's okay to say that.’ I'm really fighting all day to prove to them that yes, they can sing, and it's cool, so do it. That foundational skill is just confidence and belief in their instrument.”

Bethany Main is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Conservatory of Music and Dance, where she received her Master’s and Bachelor’s of Music Education. She teaches general music in Kansas City. She also directs the 6th-9th grade choir, Intermezzo, with the Youth Chorus of Kansas City.

In addition to teaching, Bethany is a composer and author. She has written her first children’s book titled “Our First Day of Music,” featuring an original song. Her piece, “Becoming You,” was selected for the JW Pepper’s Editor’s Choice distinction, as was her piece, "Be Who You Are," written in collaboration with Ryan Main.

Bethany is an active presenter and honor choir clinician, and has presented at numerous conferences and led various honor choirs. She is a two-time Olathe School District finalist for Teacher of the Year, and the recipient of East Central KMEA’s “Outstanding Young Educator” award in 2021. Previously, she taught music and directed the Special Chorus at Manchester Park Elementary in the Olathe School district, serving students in grades K-5. During her tenure at Manchester Park, her students performed with distinction at the Kansas Music Educators Association state conference. Bethany is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the Kansas Music Educators Association.

When Bethany isn’t teaching music, she can be found running, cross stitching, or snuggling on the couch with her husband Ryan and their two dogs, Pippa and Missy.

To get in touch with Bethany, you can find her on Instagram (@mrsmainsmusicians) or TeachersPayTeachers (@mrsmainsmusicians) or visit her website: mrsmainsmusicians.com.

Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 3 episode from February 16, 2024, to hear how to share your story with us.

Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.

Podcast music from Podcast.co
Photo in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify