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You can feel the difference between a choir that’s technically fine and a choir that communicates every word. That’s the gap we explore with Jonathan Bligh, founder and artistic director of Festival Statesmen Chorus, as he shares the real work behind building a world-class choral sound.

We trace Jonathan’s path from boy chorister at St Peter’s Cathedral to scholarships, school ensemble formation, and life-changing training abroad. Along the way, we unpack what “culture first” actually looks like in a rehearsal room: who thrives, why willingness to learn matters, and how playing the long game makes a difference.

From barbershop to contemporary a cappella to sacred repertoire, Jonathan explains how FSC’s versatility presented both strengths and programming challenges, and why heart, contrast, and connection to text is worth the time and effort. We also make vocal pedagogy practical for choir leaders and singers by starting with safe fundamentals: basic voice science, alignment, efficiency, and choosing advice that fits the particularities of body and genre.

The interview concludes with FSC performing Frank Ticheli’s beautiful Earth Song. If this episode encouraged you or sparked an idea for your choir, subscribe, share this with a fellow singer, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

VOCAL PEDAGOGY LINKS

• Dr Dan Robinson (based in QLD) - www.youtube.com/@DrDanRobinson
• Estill Voice Training - Level 1 and 2 is good* https://estillvoice.com/find-a-course/ *Just spend some time on learning the physiology of the voice beforehand so that you're not overwhelmed.
• Dr Sam Webster - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtqpyzS48zA&t=263s
• Historical perspectives of singing - Brenton Coffin and Stephen Austin -https://www.thepracticalpedagogue.com/about - they'll cover the heavy hitters Garcia and Lamperti.
• Modern Lens - Ingo Titze, Kenneth Bozeman, Scott McCoy
• Thomas Hemsley's singing and imagination.
• Accent method is good for breathing (based in Australia)

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In Episode 3 we talk about what makes community singing more than a weekly rehearsal and how choirs become places of real support and belonging. We share practical ways to build connections within your choir, collaborate with other groups, and learn from other directors without letting imposter syndrome run the show.
• seeing choir community grow and show up in real life support during hard times
• building networks through festivals, exchanges, workshops and joint performances
• making the first move to connect with other choirs and directors
• balancing confidence with curiosity when learning from other musicians

If you've enjoyed the episode today, please share it. You can subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast app, or share the episode on social media.

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We kick off Midlife Choirsis with a clear mission: to celebrate community choir singing as a place for joy, connection, and unity. We share our own winding path into choral directing and make the case for starting before you feel ready, even if you’re going to suck at first.

• why we choose the name Midlife Choirsis and what the show stands for
• community singing as a practical antidote to division
• the lonely parts of choir directing and how comparison can make it worse
• early choir leadership stories that prove we learn by doing
• the university choir moment that turns choir into a calling
• starting Vocalize Choir and the steep learning curve of director craft
• being brave enough to suck at something new and why singers need that safety too
• Jonas Rasmussen’s reminder that the choral world needs openness over gatekeeping
• the sing-along tradition and why we end with a song

If you've enjoyed the episode today, please share it! You can subscribe to the show on your preferred podcast app, or you can share the episode on social media, or you can go super 'midlife choirsis' and share the link via email - mlchoirsispodcast@gmail.com. If you've got questions, thoughts, feedback, ideas, I'd love to hear from you from wherever you are listening around the world!

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