The Choir Guys

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with award-winning composer, lyricist, and educator Sherry Blevins for a conversation full of creativity, insight, and inspiration. As the Founder and Director of the International Choral Composers Institute, Sherry shares her journey into composition, her passion for collaborative music-making, and how her works—perfo...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode, we are honored to welcome Tony Silvestri—poet, author, composer, and widely regarded as one of the most influential choral lyricists of our time. With over seventy published works in collaboration with more than one hundred composers, Tony’s texts have shaped some of the most beloved choral pieces in the repertoire, including coll...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with award-winning composer, lyricist, and educator Kyle Pederson for a conversation centered on creativity, purpose, and the power of choral music to inspire change. Based in Minneapolis, Kyle shares his journey from teaching middle school geography to becoming a widely performed composer whose works are sung by ensem...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with legendary middle school choir director Dale Duncan, creator of the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program and passionate advocate for young singers and the teachers who lead them. After a 30-year career teaching middle school in North Carolina, New Jersey, and Georgia, Dale shares the lessons he’s learned about building st...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode, we welcome multi award-winning singer, arranger, composer, and vocal percussionist Rob Dietz to The Choir Guys Podcast. With over twenty years in contemporary a cappella, Rob has worked with some of the biggest names in vocal music, including Pentatonix, The Swingles, VoicePlay, and Kings Return. His work has appeared on NBC’s The...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode, we’re honored to kick off 2026 with the brilliant and inspiring Dr. Julie Yu-Oppenheim—Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at Oklahoma City University and Artistic Director of Canterbury Voices. Julie shares her journey from teaching high school choir in Oklahoma to becoming a nationally recognized conductor, educato...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kyle Pickett, Music Director and Conductor of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, musicianship, and building meaningful musical experiences. Kyle shares his musical journey from choral conducting to leading orchestras around th...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with the powerhouse herself — Cindy Ellis — for a conversation that’s as inspiring as it is energizing. Cindy is a Cuban-born choral director at Miami Arts Studio, where her middle and high school ensembles have graced stages from Carnegie Hall to the Latin GRAMMYs and beyond. We talk about her journey from immigrating...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with the endlessly passionate Kenny Kabak—Founder/Artistic Director of the Queen City Chorale. From teaching at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School in South Africa to co-founding the Springfield Street Choir, Kenny shares how he uses music as a tool for connection, community, and change. This episode is full of inspirati...

In this episode, we talk with Taylor Shaeffer—elementary music educator, conductor, and creator of The Treble Classroom. Taylor shares how he builds a joyful, student-centered culture in his K–6 music classroom and directs a thriving before-school choir with over 100 students. We also discuss his transition between elementary and middle school teaching, his approach to concerts (especially around...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this week’s episode of The Choir Guys Podcast, Blake and Danny talk with Dr. Dustin Cates, Director of Choral Activities at Temple University and one of the most compassionate voices in the choral world. Dustin shares his journey from Kansas City to Temple, his experience as an adoptive parent, and practical ways teachers can practice humanity...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! This week on the podcast, Blake and Danny welcome a very special guest — Danny’s own son, Zane Gutierrez! Zane is a seventh grader in the Varsity Tenor/Bass Choir, a cross-country medalist, a chess master, and a die-hard New York Knicks fan (for better or worse). In this hilarious and heartwarming episode, Blake and Danny get Zane’s take on what i...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast, Blake and Danny sit down with Dr. Nathan Dame, Director of Choral Activities and Coordinator of Fine Arts at Wylie East High School in Texas, and current ACDA National Chair for Tenor-Bass Choirs. Dr. Dame shares his insights on creating culture, community, and consistency in tenor/bass choirs—from develo...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast, Blake and Danny sit down with composer and Walton Music editor Susan LaBarr, whose music has touched choirs across the globe. From her beginnings in Springfield, Missouri, to her studies with the legendary Alice Parker, Susan shares how she found her voice as a composer—and what she looks for when evaluat...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with award-winning composer, conductor, and educator Ryan Main to explore his remarkable journey in the choral world. Listeners will hear about his path from the classroom to Carnegie Hall, the founding of the Youth Chorus of Kansas City, and the vision behind Endeavor Music Publishing, a company built to put composers...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast, we sit down with Jonathan Owen, current President of the Southwestern American Choral Directors Association (SWACDA). Jonathan reflects on his extensive leadership journey—including past roles as MCDA President and MMEA Choral Vice President—and shares his philosophy on why service and leadership matter s...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast, we welcome Clint Ferrie, head choir director at Trinity Springs Middle School and co-host of The Choir Chronicles Podcast. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, Clint has led his choirs to national recognition, including performances at multiple ACDA and TMEA conventions. We talk about his journ...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast! In this episode, we kick off Season 3 of The Choir Guys Podcast with our annual Back to School Special! While we don’t have a guest in the studio, we’ve gathered first-day-of-school traditions, tips, and go-to activities from 13 amazing choir directors across the country: Nathan Cook, Chris Munce, Spencer Fleury, Nathan Dame, Jennifer Sengin, Kurt...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast, presented by Endeavor Music Publishing! In this episode, we sit down with internationally acclaimed conductor and arranger Michael Joseph Barrett to talk all things choral—from his years leading the Tuks Camerata to his new life in Australia. He reflects on his recent time spent in the states with the Missouri State Chorale and Camerata’s powerful...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast, presented by Endeavor Music Publishing! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. J.D. Frizzell to talk all things contemporary a cappella—from the thrill of premiering a new work at Carnegie Hall to the vocal techniques that define healthy pop singing. J.D. dives into the vocal colors that are essential for modern a cappella, debunks common misconcep...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast, presented by Endeavor Music Publishing! In this episode, we share Dr. Erin Plisco and Daniel Gutierrez’s 2021 National ACDA Virtual Presentation which explores the often overlooked “crack” or break in choral singing. Through real-time demonstration and expert guidance, they teach singers how to embrace that vocal transition—particularly around the...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast, presented by Endeavor Music Publishing! In this episode, Blake and Danny are so blessed to be joined by the one and only Roger Emerson! Roger delves into how he achieved all he has achieved, also revealing his approach to the arrangement process. He also delivers his personal thoughts on the John 1 IBC lawsuit that has recently exploded online. We...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast, presented by Endeavor Music Publishing! In this episode, Blake and Danny join the Choir Fam Podcast with Dean Luethi and Matthew Myers. Dean and Matt ask The Choir Guys questions about co-teaching, performing at conferences, and more! We hope you find our discussions helpful, entertaining, and applicable. If you have any questions or topics you wo...

Heather Orr's Treble Tactics, Vocal Pedagogy Deep Dive, and Strange Guilty Pleasures | Ep 13 Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast, presented by Endeavor Music Publishing! In this episode, Blake and Danny have a special guest - Heather Orr! After seeing her choir perform at ACDA, Danny and Blake knew they HAD to pick her brain on the podcast. They discuss various vocal pedagogy strateg...

Welcome to this episode of The Choir Guys Podcast, presented by Endeavor Music Publishing! In this episode, Blake and Danny their time at National ACDA in Dallas. Blake celebrates Danny’s accomplishment of having an incredible ACDA performance and discusses the impact it had on him. Blake and Danny also discuss other takeaways from ACDA. You will also hear our favorite segment, Hack Yeah! We hope...