Choir Fam Podcast

• Ep. 132 - Expanding Singers' Tone Color Palette - Francis Cathlina

  “I ask them to sing with maximum efficiency, accessing their singer’s formant, and from there, we’ll ask for specific sounds. Sometimes conductors get stuck asking them to blend, to listen. When we do that, it’s like giving them an 8-pack of Crayola and asking them to color. Instead, we start the rehearsal with a 64-pack and then throughout the rehearsal we might pick out the light blue #2 to color that section of the music. They’re able to access the full breadth of their vocal powers in the rehearsal.”Francis Cathlina, D.M.A. (he/him) is a Vietnamese-American conductor and educator, renowned for his innovative approach to choral music. His concerts invite audiences into a world where choral artistry becomes a powerful storytelling medium.Dr. Cathlina is currently the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Memphis, where he received the 2025 Dean’s Award for Creative Achievement. He oversees the Choral Area, leads the MM/DMA Choral Conducting program, and conducts the University Singers.A two-time GRAMMY-nominated educator, Dr. Cathlina draws deeply from his Eastern heritage. His work reflects a commitment to excellence and collaboration. In 2025, he will serve on the conducting faculty for Brazil’s FIMUS Festival and work in the Philippines as part of ACDA’s International Conductors Exchange Program. Early recognition came from the Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA), which named him a “Young Director of Distinction.”Cathlina’s teaching philosophy centers on developing masterful technicians, expressive communicators, and thoughtful citizens. Under his direction, the UofM University Singers have been invited to perform for national conferences. Recent engagements involve All-State choirs in Mississippi and Kentucky, the International Mu Phi Convention Chorus, and a Carnegie Hall debut. Dr. Cathlina's research focuses on choral tone and conducting gesture. He has presented over 69 sessions worldwide. He is published in international journals. In 2025, he served as the Headliner for the Ohio and Alabama choral conferences. In 2023, he co-led Conducting Masterclasses in Greece with the University of Macedonia and Ionian University.Dr. Cathlina earned a DMA in conducting with a vocal pedagogy cognate from the University of North Texas, an MM from Michigan State University, and a BME from Baylor University. Before his doctorate, he taught in Texas public schools. Beyond the podium, Dr. Cathlina is an avid pickleball player. He, his husband Kyle, and their dog Coco call Memphis, Tennessee, their home. To get in touch with Francis, you can find him on Instagram (@francis.cathlina) or Facebook (@franciscathlina), on his website (franciscathlina.com), or via email: [email protected] [email protected] to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

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• Ep. 131 - Building Community Through Music in Worship - Jennaya Robison

  "In my third year of teaching, I started to have vocal problems. I was taking voice lessons. I was singing professionally. It was feeling great. Suddenly my voice was gone, and I couldn't get it back. I took a leave of absence to get some speech language therapy. That's why I'm so passionate about using our voices in the choral ensemble in an effective way and having us as conductors find how to use that voice so that they don't need to manipulate things.Dr. Jennaya Robison is the Artistic Director of the National Lutheran Choir (Minneapolis, MN) and an in-demand conductor, educator, and soprano. Known for her dynamic leadership and commitment to intergenerational and globally engaged choral artistry, she has conducted choirs, workshops, and festivals across the United States, Europe, and southern Africa. She is a frequent guest conductor for All-State and honor choirs and is highly sought after for her work in worship, education, and community-based choral initiatives.From 2020 to 2023, Robison served as the Raymond R. Neevel/Missouri Associate Professor and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory. Prior to that, she was Associate Professor of Choral Music at Luther College. She holds a Master of Music in conducting and voice from the University of New Mexico and a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Arizona.Robison is deeply committed to voice pedagogy within the choral ensemble, cultivating expressive singing and honoring the unique vocal potential of each singer. She is also an active composer and arranger, editing the National Lutheran Choir Series with MorningStar Music and the Jennaya Robison Series with Pavane Publishing. She serves as national chair for Music in Worship for the American Choral Directors Association.To get in touch with Jennaya, you can visit the National Lutheran Choir website, nlca.com, or visit their YouTube channel (@NLChoir). You can also find Jennaya on Facebook (@jennaya.robison) or Instagram (@jennayarobison).Email [email protected] to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

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• Ep. 130 - Expanding the Choral Sound with Contemporary Music - Rob Dietz

  “I love the way that contemporary a cappella engages singers who might not necessarily see themselves as ‘choral singers’ to be able to sing together and maybe discover a love of more traditional choral music. For me, it’s all about engaging more singers. Group singing is such a beautiful community, and I’ve seen the ways it can really change lives, create beautiful spaces for self-expression, and do some good for the world in a time where we really need it."Rob Dietz is a multi award-winning singer and vocal percussionist who has been arranging, composing, teaching, and performing contemporary a cappella music for over twenty years. Based in Los Angeles, Rob is best known for his work as an arranger and group coach on NBC’s The Sing-Off. His arrangements have been performed by top-tier vocal artists, including Grammy-winning groups Pentatonix and The Swingles, as well as VoicePlay, Kings Return, and many more.He earned his bachelor’s degree in music with an outside field in business from Ithaca College in 2010. While at Ithaca, Rob had the honor of directing the all male-identified group, Ithacappella, with whom he twice advanced to the finals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.As a performer, Rob is an internationally recognized vocal percussionist, with credits including Glee (FOX) and The Late Late Show with James Corden. Rob has a deep passion for a cappella education, and is a founding co-director (along with Ben Bram and Avi Kaplan) of A Cappella Academy. In 2016, he launched Legacy, a youth a cappella group in Los Angeles. In 2023, he transitioned Legacy into Academy Choir: Los Angeles, a larger ensemble blending contemporary a cappella with modern choral music.In addition to directing his own groups, Rob is a sought-after clinician and presenter, having conducted honor ensembles at regional and state festivals. He is also the author of A Cappella 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Contemporary A Cappella Singing.Alongside his work in contemporary a cappella, Rob is also an accomplished choral composer, with works published by Hal Leonard, Alfred, GIA Publications, and Heritage. Rob currently serves as the national repertoire and resources co-chair for Contemporary/Commercial music for the American Choral Directors Association To get in touch with Rob, you can visit robdietzmusic.com or find him on Instagram (@rdietz55) or Facebook (@rdietz2).Email [email protected] to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

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• Ep. 129 - Making a Difference Through Choral Music - Joy Hirokawa

  “We were all asking ourselves, ‘what can we do to counter this, what’s happening in the world? How can I help my singers understand and navigate what is happening in our country right now?’ I made this huge shift in my thinking about what choral music should be and why we should be doing it. It's not just ‘what are you singing and is it gorgeous?’ but ‘how are you making a difference? How are you impacting the world?’”Dr. Joy Hirokawa is the Artistic/Executive Director of the Mosaic Youth Chorus, established in 2023 to provide an opportunity for diverse youth to create community, build empathy, and affect positive social change through artistic and expressive choral singing. She is a passionate advocate for giving youth voice through the choral medium and is nationally recognized as a leader in youth choral music. She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education from Boston University, and both a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting and a Bachelor’s degree with honors in Music Education from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Hirokawa has taught at all levels from K – Post Grad and frequently appears as a clinician and guest conductor. She is a published author and arranger of choral music. She was the ACDA National Repertoire and Resources Chair for Children & Community Youth Choirs from 2019 – 2025. Mosaic Youth Chorus was awarded the Chorus America 2025 Education and Community Engagement Award.To get in touch with Joy, you can visit the Mosaic Youth Chorus website or Facebook page (@mosaicyouth) or email her at [email protected] [email protected] to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

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• Ep. 128 - Building Emotional Intelligence Through Choral Singing - Jeremy Brown

  “My mantra for my teaching is: I want to create good humans while also creating good musicians. I tell every ensemble that on the first day of school. What they care about is 'Does Mr. Brown see me? Does he value me? Does he care for me?' Then they'll start singing. I care more about the human heart than I care about the perfection of the music. Yes, I care about the music, but if my students aren't in the right mental headspace, then the music won't come.”Jeremy Brown is serving his third year at McKinney Boyd as the associate director of choirs. He conducts Lyric and Meistersingers as well as instructs the AP Music Theory course. Before Boyd, he was the associate director of choirs at Haltom High School in Birdville Independent School District. Choirs under the direction of Jeremy Brown have received consistent superior and excellent ratings at UIL Choir Evaluations. He is a product of great choral music, graduating Magna Cum Laude from the Texas Tech School of Music.Mr. Brown is passionate about choral music education and conducting. He has served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the DFW Metroplex. In 2020 he served as a student conductor for the 2020 Summer TCDA Convention Choral Conducting Workshop. Also, he served as a conducting fellow for the Atlanta Summer Choral Conducting Institute in Summer 2022. Along with conducting, Mr. Brown performs in three choral ensembles in the DFW area- Brothers in Song, Orpheus Chamber Singers and New American Voices.In 2025, Mr. Brown published an article within the TMEA Southwestern Musician Magazine titled Emotional Intelligence in Tenor Bass Choirs. Within this article, he provided insight into the tenor-bass choral experience. Mr. Brown is a proud member of TMEA, ACDA and Phi Mu Alpha. Mr. Brown currently resides in Dallas with his wife Nikki.To get in touch with Jeremy, you can find him on Facebook (@jeremy.brown.797432) or Instagram (@jbrown_legend) or search for McKinney Boyd Choir on Facebook or Instagram (@BoydChoirs).Email [email protected] to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

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