The Choir Director Podcast

Russell Scott

The Choir Director Podcast is the essential resource for choir directors, conductors and vocal leaders who want to build stronger choirs, run better rehearsals and create outstanding musical experiences. Hosted by international conductor and festival producer Russell Scott, each episode shares practical strategies for rehearsal technique, vocal training, repertoire choices, choir recruitment, leadership, performance preparation and managing real-world community and amateur choirs. Whether you lead a school choir, church choir, community choir or professional ensemble, this podcast gives you actionable ideas you can apply immediately — from improving blend and tuning to motivating singers and growing your choir. Featuring expert interviews with leading conductors, vocal specialists, composers and choir educators, alongside solo coaching episodes packed with real solutions for real choir challenges. If you’re a choir director who wants practical tools, musical insight and leadership strategies to help your singers thrive, this is the podcast for you.

  1. 4d ago

    Ep #23: Jeremy Matheis: The Choir Director Who Sells Vision, Not Just Music

    Your choir already has a sound, but can you change it on demand, protect voices across styles, and still keep rehearsals upbeat? Russell Scott sits down with Jeremy Matheis, Artistic Director of Choir of the Sound in Seattle, to get practical about what actually works when you need singers to respond fast and perform with confidence. We start with Jeremy’s story, from conducting as a child to leading a large, versatile ensemble, then move straight into the craft: how to “hear the sound first” and translate vague requests like brighter or darker into singer friendly actions. Jeremy shares concrete tools for choral sound, blend and balance, including how pop placement, breathiness and rhythmic attack differ from the taller vowels and classical focus you might use for a masterwork. If you run a community choir, you’ll especially value his thoughts on making limited rehearsal time count. The conversation also opens the door on programming and production. Choir of the Sound is known for doing both masterworks and contemporary pop shows well, with movement, costumes and choreography that complement the music rather than distract from it. Jeremy breaks down the teamwork behind big concerts, how to motivate people with different comfort levels, and why authenticity and humour can make high standards feel energising. We finish with performance mindset and accountability, including the idea of singing as the ultimate team sport. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, share it with a fellow choir director, and leave a rating and review to help more conductors find the podcast. *** More about Jeremy Matheis: Website: https://www.choirofthesound.org/ Facebook: @ChoiroftheSound Instagram: @choirofthesound Contact the Studio Support the show *** Resources: The Choir Director Podcast — helping you build stronger choirs, run better rehearsals, and create outstanding musical experiences. Website: thechoirdirectorpodcast.comMailing List: Join our Newsletter Follow Russell Scott: Website: russellscott.orgInstagram: @russellscottofficialFacebook: facebook.com/russellscottofficialX: @russellscottuk(c) Russell Scott 2026.  All rights reserved.

  2. Jul 15

    Ep #22: Isaac Cates: Earn It Before You Teach It; Live It Before You Lead It

    A gospel choir can sound thrilling and still miss the point if the style is borrowed without the roots. I’m joined by Kansas City composer, conductor, pianist, and choral clinician Isaac Cates, an artist whose music is sung in over 17 countries, whose ensemble Ordained has earned over a million social views, and who made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2023. Together we talk about what it really takes to cross musical borders with integrity, whether you’re programming classical masterworks, spirituals, or contemporary gospel.  Isaac shares how his musical life started in a “high” Baptist church environment where anthems and gospel sit side by side, alongside classical piano training from the age of four and voice study as a teenager. We explore why the basics of music theory travel across styles, how film and Disney scores model world-building through motif and storytelling, and how those classical sensibilities quietly shape Isaac’s own writing, including large-scale choral work like Canon for Racial Reconciliation.  We also get practical and specific about “black style singing”: what the term means, the historical and cultural lineage behind it, and why rhythm, movement, call and response, tone production, and rehearsal practice matter as much as the notes. If you’re a non-black choir director building a gospel choir, Isaac offers clear guidance on immersion, study, using scholarly resources, visiting rehearsals, asking respectful questions, and learning the “code” of a tradition without turning people into a shortcut.  If you care about better rehearsals, healthier vocal leadership, and programming that honours where the music comes from, press play. Subscribe, share with a fellow choir director, and leave a rating and review so more conductors can find the conversation. *** More about Isaac Cates: Website: isaaccatesmusic.com Instagram: @isaac_cates Facebook: @isaaccatesmusic Contact the Studio Support the show *** Resources: The Choir Director Podcast — helping you build stronger choirs, run better rehearsals, and create outstanding musical experiences. Website: thechoirdirectorpodcast.comMailing List: Join our Newsletter Follow Russell Scott: Website: russellscott.orgInstagram: @russellscottofficialFacebook: facebook.com/russellscottofficialX: @russellscottuk(c) Russell Scott 2026.  All rights reserved.

  3. Jul 8

    Ep #21: Gary Seighman: You're Not the Engine — You're the Track. Neuroscience and the Self-Driving Ensemble

    Your choir can sing the right notes and still feel disconnected. The missing piece is often not “more rehearsal”, but better ensemble connection: eyes up, bodies engaged, breath shared, and responsibility spread across the group. I’m joined by Dr Gary Safeman, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Trinity University, to explore the practical science behind what happens when singers perform together and how that can transform your rehearsals. We dig into the neuroscience of singing, emotional contagion, and why mimicry and visual connection can tighten rhythm and unify vowels faster than another verbal correction. Gary shares how thinking in terms of movement, weight, inertia, and muscle memory makes ensemble skills trainable rather than mysterious. If you’ve ever felt a disconnect between your gesture and the sound coming back at you, you’ll hear concrete ways to rebuild that mind-muscle link. We also talk conductor dependency and how to build a self-driving choir without losing artistry. One of the simplest rehearsal exercises is also the most uncomfortable: letting singers start and maintain a passage without you conducting, so they learn to breathe together, listen laterally, and own the pulse. Along the way we touch on creativity, the default mode network, and how interdisciplinary ideas from sport and beyond can spark better choral rehearsal technique while reducing burnout. If you want more expressive singing, stronger synchronisation, and a choir that connects with each other and the audience, press play. Subscribe for more conversations for choir directors and conductors, share this with a colleague, and leave a rating and review so more choral leaders can find the show. *** More about Gary Seighman: Website: https://trinity.edu/directory/gseighma Instagram: @gary_seighman Contact the Studio Support the show *** Resources: The Choir Director Podcast — helping you build stronger choirs, run better rehearsals, and create outstanding musical experiences. Website: thechoirdirectorpodcast.comMailing List: Join our Newsletter Follow Russell Scott: Website: russellscott.orgInstagram: @russellscottofficialFacebook: facebook.com/russellscottofficialX: @russellscottuk(c) Russell Scott 2026.  All rights reserved.

  4. Jul 1

    Ep #20: Why Your Choir Needs to Leave the Rehearsal Room

    A choir can rehearse for years and still feel like a group of strangers who happen to sing in the same room. The moment you take singers on the road, something changes: conversations deepen, trust builds faster, and the music starts to sound like a shared commitment rather than a weekly task. We talk through how choir travel and choir tours can be genuinely transformational without being extravagant. I share why local choir trips often punch above their weight, plus a simple progression that helps you build confidence and leadership capacity step by step. We also dig into the musical side: how different acoustics expose tuning and balance, why outdoor performances demand focus, and how a same-country tour can raise standards while keeping logistics manageable. Then we widen the lens to international choir touring. I unpack the difference between musical tourism and musical exchange, and why the best trips are built around connection with other musicians, not just performances. If you’re considering something bigger, we cover the hard realities too: budgeting, fundraising, payment plans, inclusion, accessibility, anxiety, and safeguarding policies that protect everyone. Finally, we land on practical principles that keep trips meaningful, well-paced and restorative, so the experience echoes back into rehearsal long after the coach gets home. If you’re wondering whether your choir should travel more, start where you are and choose the next meaningful step. Subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share this with a fellow choir director who could use a clearer plan for making trips work. Contact the Studio Support the show *** Resources: The Choir Director Podcast — helping you build stronger choirs, run better rehearsals, and create outstanding musical experiences. Website: thechoirdirectorpodcast.comMailing List: Join our Newsletter Follow Russell Scott: Website: russellscott.orgInstagram: @russellscottofficialFacebook: facebook.com/russellscottofficialX: @russellscottuk(c) Russell Scott 2026.  All rights reserved.

  5. Jun 24

    Ep #19: Tori Longdon: Are You Climbing The Right Wall As A Conductor ?

    Most conducting careers do not begin with a neat roadmap. They begin with a choir, a spark of curiosity, and a moment where you realise you would rather shape the sound than blend into it. We’re joined by Tori Longdon, Principal Conductor of the Covent Garden Chorus and Associate Chorus Director of the London Philharmonic Choir, to talk about what it really takes to build a respected, sustainable life as a choir director and choral conductor. We go back to the foundations: youth choirs, early musical opportunities, and the social and emotional skills that group singing teaches long before anyone talks about “career development”. From there, we dig into repertoire and musical taste, including Tori’s brilliant reminder that all music becomes classical if you wait long enough. If you care about inclusive programming, singer engagement, and keeping rehearsals musically rich without getting stuck in genre battles, you’ll find plenty to take into your next season plan. The conversation turns personal and practical with vocal health. Tori shares how vocal strain and limited guidance pushed her towards conducting, and how that experience shaped a more efficient rehearsal style. We also explore mentoring as a two-way street, why learning never stops after conservatoire, and how programmes and networks can replace the support structure many musicians lose after study. Finally, we name the quieter realities of leadership: loneliness, fear of failure, fear of success, and the adrenaline crash after big projects. If you’ve ever wondered whether you are “doing it right”, this is an honest, hopeful listen. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a fellow choir leader, and leave a rating and review so more conductors can find the show. *** More about Tori Longdon: Website: https://torilongdon.com Facebook: @torilongdonmusic Instagram: @torilongdon *** Contact the Studio Support the show *** Resources: The Choir Director Podcast — helping you build stronger choirs, run better rehearsals, and create outstanding musical experiences. Website: thechoirdirectorpodcast.comMailing List: Join our Newsletter Follow Russell Scott: Website: russellscott.orgInstagram: @russellscottofficialFacebook: facebook.com/russellscottofficialX: @russellscottuk(c) Russell Scott 2026.  All rights reserved.

  6. Jun 17

    Ep #18: Peter Futcher: A Rehearsal Comes Alive When We Add Value

    Most choirs don’t need more rehearsal time. They need rehearsals that feel alive. Russell Scott is joined by choral conductor, composer and educator Peter Futcher of Choir Matters to explore what actually lifts a choir from competent to compelling, even when you’re working with busy adults who arrive tired, stressed and short on headspace. We talk about playfulness as a serious tool for better singing: taking musical risks, creating a rehearsal room where people belong, and staying focused on the journey rather than obsessing over a single performance date. Peter shares why some of the most memorable concerts happen with almost nobody in the audience, and how that freedom can unlock sound, confidence and connection. You’ll also hear practical ideas on choir positioning beyond the standard SATB block, including mixing parts and changing sightlines to improve listening, tuning and attention. The heart of the conversation is conducting gesture and sound. Peter keeps returning to one blunt, helpful test: are we adding value, or are we just beating time? We dig into clarity, simplicity, watching, and why the “magic” is rarely in fancy patterns. Along the way we touch on repertoire choices, audience emotion, bold musical opinions, and the difference between reading vertically on the page and singing horizontally in a true line. Subscribe for more rehearsal craft, share this with a fellow choir director, and leave a rating and review so more conductors can find the show. *** More about Peter Futcher: website: https://www.choirmatters.org/ Contact the Studio Support the show *** Resources: The Choir Director Podcast — helping you build stronger choirs, run better rehearsals, and create outstanding musical experiences. Website: thechoirdirectorpodcast.comMailing List: Join our Newsletter Follow Russell Scott: Website: russellscott.orgInstagram: @russellscottofficialFacebook: facebook.com/russellscottofficialX: @russellscottuk(c) Russell Scott 2026.  All rights reserved.

  7. Jun 10

    Ep #17: Susan Cox: The Art of Nurturing Mature Voices

    The fastest way to improve a choir is not a new warm-up or a clever baton trick. It is building trust so singers feel safe enough to actually sing. Russell Scott sits down with Susan Cox, director of the Grand Union Community Choir, to explore what community choir leadership looks like when you take confidence, wellbeing, and real life seriously, especially in mixed ability groups. Susan shares what she has learned from decades in music education and choral directing, including how different ages can experience rehearsal in different ways. We talk about why some older singers need more repetition, clearer visual cues, and a little more time, and how anxiety and self-belief can matter as much as raw musical capability. If you lead singers who bring past criticism, learning differences, or performance nerves into the room, you will find practical, compassionate approaches you can use straight away. We also tackle one of the most sensitive topics for choir directors: singing off book. Yes, performing without sheet music can boost audience engagement and presence, but the push to memorise can create stress that stops people singing. Susan explains how to introduce off-book singing gradually, how to use a “safety net” without losing connection, and why there is no one-size-fits-all model across community choirs, SATB ensembles, and more traditional reading groups. Along the way we dig into self-awareness, imposter syndrome, rehearsal planning, and why filming yourself can reveal habits your choir sees instantly. If you want better rehearsals, a healthier choir culture, and a more confident ensemble sound, subscribe, share with a fellow choir leader, and leave us a rating and review. Contact the Studio Support the show *** Resources: The Choir Director Podcast — helping you build stronger choirs, run better rehearsals, and create outstanding musical experiences. Website: thechoirdirectorpodcast.comMailing List: Join our Newsletter Follow Russell Scott: Website: russellscott.orgInstagram: @russellscottofficialFacebook: facebook.com/russellscottofficialX: @russellscottuk(c) Russell Scott 2026.  All rights reserved.

  8. Jun 3

    Ep #16: Maria A. Ellis: What If Classical Music Is A Pop Secret?

    You can feel when a choir rehearsal has real trust, and you can also feel when singers are holding back. Maria A. Ellis, St Louis-based choral conductor, educator, and founder of Girl Conductor, joins us to get practical about how we create rehearsal rooms where singers take risks, learn faster, and actually enjoy the work. We talk through high-impact rehearsal strategies that start with comfort and connection, then build towards excellence. Maria shares her “favourite auntie” leadership mindset, why children often lean into new ideas more easily than adults, and how we can normalise mistakes without lowering standards. One line lands especially hard: make the mistake loud, because we cannot fix what we cannot hear. If you lead a youth choir, school choir, community choir, or chamber ensemble, these ideas translate straight into better pacing, clearer feedback, and stronger sound. From there, we move into inclusive repertoire and genre crossover with integrity: gospel, classical, pop, and musical theatre. Maria’s Bach And Beyoncé approach shows how to make classical music relevant by revealing its fingerprints in modern music, film scores, and sampling culture. We also dig into teaching music theory and intervals using references students already know, treating style as the character of the music rather than a box labelled “genre”, and helping singers connect to lyrics even when the text sits outside their belief system. If you’re ready to sharpen your choral conducting, expand your repertoire choices, and help young singers find confidence and style, press play. Subscribe, share with a fellow choir director, and leave us a rating and review so more conductors can find the show. *** More about Maria A. Ellis: website: www.girlconductor.com Facebook: @girlconductor Instagram: @girlconductor Contact the Studio Support the show *** Resources: The Choir Director Podcast — helping you build stronger choirs, run better rehearsals, and create outstanding musical experiences. Website: thechoirdirectorpodcast.comMailing List: Join our Newsletter Follow Russell Scott: Website: russellscott.orgInstagram: @russellscottofficialFacebook: facebook.com/russellscottofficialX: @russellscottuk(c) Russell Scott 2026.  All rights reserved.

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The Choir Director Podcast is the essential resource for choir directors, conductors and vocal leaders who want to build stronger choirs, run better rehearsals and create outstanding musical experiences. Hosted by international conductor and festival producer Russell Scott, each episode shares practical strategies for rehearsal technique, vocal training, repertoire choices, choir recruitment, leadership, performance preparation and managing real-world community and amateur choirs. Whether you lead a school choir, church choir, community choir or professional ensemble, this podcast gives you actionable ideas you can apply immediately — from improving blend and tuning to motivating singers and growing your choir. Featuring expert interviews with leading conductors, vocal specialists, composers and choir educators, alongside solo coaching episodes packed with real solutions for real choir challenges. If you’re a choir director who wants practical tools, musical insight and leadership strategies to help your singers thrive, this is the podcast for you.

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