Ever since Jason Ferdinand moved from Oakwood, the choir world started to wonder what was next for the Aeolians. After their 2019 National ACDA performance, they were thrust into the conversations about the “BEST” collegiate choirs in the world. I started to wonder who the next director would be and what kind of pressure might be attached.
Enter Jeremy Sovoy Jordan, an Oakwood Alumn, composer, conductor and mutli-faceted musician who knows, loves and appreciates the history and tradition of this renowned ensemble. In this conversation Jeremy and I discuss what it has been like to take over the group and his dreams for the future. We also discuss ideas about programming in terms of repertoire, as well as philosophies related to creating an ensemble cohesion and culture.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com.
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Choralosophy Podcast (@choralosophy) • Instagram photos and videos
Jeremy Sovoy Jordan – A native of Huntsville, AL, Jeremy Sovoy Jordan attended Oakwood University where he studied vocal performance and pedagogy and was a member of the Aeolians, under the direction of Jason Max Ferdinand. In 2017 along with his brother Justin, Jordan was inducted into the North Alabama Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame. In 2013, he accepted the position of Director of Music and Choral Department at Miami Union Academy (MUA), teaching grades 6th-12th.
MUA is a historically black private academy that has been in existence since 1917. The high school choir enjoyed much success under the direction of Jordan, being participants in the 2018 Music for All National Choir Festival. They’ve also had the privilege of performing at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. Under his leadership, the MUA Choral Department initiated an annual social justice concert to raise awareness about the injustices our students see in their communities and the world at large. Jeremy also serves as Conductor and Composer-in-Redsidence for the New Canon Chamber Collective Orchestra whose goal and purpose are to promote new and existing compositions by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color(BIPOC) composers. Jordan is currently the Director of Choral Activities and conductor of the Aeolians of Oakwood University.
Find Justin on Social Media!
IG – oakwoodaeolians
FB – The Aeolians
TikTok – TheAeoliansofOU
Episode 124: Teaching in a Famous Classroom with Myles Finn
Episode 123: The Belonging Buffet
Episode 122: The Problem of “Racializing” Music with Contraband
Episode 121: When Magic Happens with Chanticleer
Episode 120: Jake Runestad Live in My Classroom!
Episode 119: Yes Middle Schoolers CAN! with Dale Duncan
Episode 118: Leveling the Playing Field with Dr. Chantae Pittman
Episode 117: Finding My Voice with Benedict Sheehan
Episode 116: What is Our MAIN Job?
Episode 115: The A Cappella Revolution with Rob Dietz
Car Thoughts: Thank you for your mistake
Episode 114: Boys Keep Singing! With Martin Ashley
Car Thoughts: Back to School with No Masks and Normalizing Noise Making
Everyone CAN Get an A, But Not Everyone Will
Episode 113: Are We Doing Anti-Racism Wrong? with Dr. Sheena Mason
Episode 112: Arts of Personhood and Shining Eyes
Ep 111: The Righteous Musician with Reena Esmail
Episode 110: Creating Laboratories for Friction with Mónica Guzmán
Episode 109: Doing the Business of Choir with Alex Gartner
Episode 108: Dropping the Covid Ball with Dr. Nikki Johnson
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Marty Ray Project: Chats
What’s the Res?
It’s All An Act
Anne of Avonlea
The Federalist Papers
The Magnus Archives
The Moth