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
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Episode 66: “I Shine!” Music as Self Care with Sarah Quartel
Car Thoughts: How To Get Choirs to “Sing Louder”
Episode 65: The Art of Community with Dr. Iona Italia
How NOT to Write Your Cancellation Essay
Episode 63: “We Face People.” The Courage of the Choir with Bob Chilcott
Thoughts on What ‘Elitism” Means in Choral Music
Episode 62: Filling in the Gaps with Choir
Episode 61: Give Me Some Humanity! With Will Todd
Episode 60: Labels Won’t Stick to Isaac Cates
Motivational Message From Dr. Emily Williams Burch!
Episode 59: Married to the Choir with The Robison’s and the The Munces
Why You May Have Misunderstood Singers Masks and the Aerosol Study
Episode 58: Telling the Story of American Choral Singing
Episode 57: Working Between Worlds with Reena Esmail
Car Thoughts: I Think We Dis the Super Bowl Music Because We’re Jealous
Car Thoughts: Why Conversations Online End Badly
Episode 56: Sound Engineering for Dummies with Josh Williams
Car Thoughts: The Performance is still critical.
Episode 55: Music At the Intersection of Identities with Deborah Stephens
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