RESEARCH AND TEACHING INTERESTS
Choral Pedagogy
Choral Literature
Choral Conducting
Vocal Jazz
Hugo Distler
Polymetric Music
Congregational Song
Early American Music and Performance Practice
Musical Humor
DISSERTATION
Hugo Distler's Der Jahrkreis - a Pedagogical Journey through the Church Year
In the early twentieth century, a religious and cultural renewal movement took hold in the Evangelical Church (Lutheran) in Germany. As a result, music from the masters of the Renaissance and Baroque period saw new popularity in the church. Upon winning his first church position, Hugo Distler (1908-1942) found his choir unable to sing the rich harmonic structures of the time and the intricate rhythmic structures of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Through his collection of motets for three voices (mixed and treble), Der Jahrkreis, Distler sought to provide tools for his choir to learn both the harmonic and rhythmic structures that he and his contemporaries were utilizing in their music. This document provides both an explanation of Distler’s pedagogical structure as well as detailed Guides for Conducting and Teaching to assist conductors with teaching these motets. A set of newly engraved editions of selected motets with English texts is also provided.
PUBLICATIONS AND PAPER PRESENTATIONS
Singing Colonial Musick, The Hymn, The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. Winter 2022.
Music Editor, Songs for the Holy Other, The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, July 2019.
https://thehymnsociety.org/resources/songs-for-the-holy-other/
Book Reviewer, The Hymn, The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. Fall 2015, Spring 2019.
Mortenson, Ralph A. The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology, Canterbury Press. December, 2016.
Hymn-related Choral and Instrumental Music Reviews. The Verse, The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. March, 2015.
Hymnary.org as a Resource. Guest blog for Choralnet.org, American Choral Directors Association. May, 2014.
Singing Choral Musick: Performance Practice of Early American Psalms, Hymnody, and Anthems.
Paper presentation at the ACDA National Conference, Dallas, TX. March, 2013.
WWWhere Did You Find that Piece? Finding Repertoire in the Digital Age: A Guide to Online
Resources for Choral Directors. Choral Journal, American Choral Directors Association. February, 2012.
WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS
Marching to the Rhythm of God's Call: Finding God’s Strength, Peace, and Presence Through Music,
District of Columbia Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. October 2025
A Community Sing in Honor of Alice Parker. Community Sing and Workshop Presentation.
ACDA Voices United Conference, August 2024
More than a “Treat” – Making Broadway, Pop, and Jazz a Part of Your Curriculum.
Workshop Presentation. DC Music Educators Association Conference, January 2024
More than a “Treat” – Making Broadway, Pop, and Jazz a Part of Your Curriculum.
Workshop Presentation. Virginia Music Educators Association Professional Development Day, April 2023
Help! I Have No Tenors! Reading Session.
Virginia Music Educators Association Professional Development Day, April 2023
More than a “Treat” – Making Broadway, Pop, and Jazz a Part of Your Curriculum.
Workshop Presentation. American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Southwestern Region Conference, March, 2022
More than a “Treat” – Making Broadway, Pop, and Jazz a Part of Your Curriculum.
Workshop Presentation. ACDA Southern Region Conference, February, 2022
Extensions of Virtual Singing. Panel Presentation Guest.
ACDA Voices United regional conference, August 2021
Surprise! You’re Now an Online Worship Expert! Webinar presentation.
Wesleyan Sacred Music Institute webinar series, August 2020
Hardware and Software for Recording and Streaming. Webinar presentation.
Professional development seminar, Fairfax County Schools, August 2020
Tech Tips for Recording and Streaming. Digital workshop presentation.
ACDA Voices United regional conference, August 2020
A Cappella Singing for the Average Congregation. Digital workshop presentation.
The Hymn Society Annual Conference, July 2020
Songleading Techniques in the Choral Rehearsal. Workshop presentation.
ACDA Voices United regional conference, August 2019
New Collection Presentation, Thirty-Two Psalms from the Becker Psalter by Heinrich Schütz,
co-presented with Gracia Grindal on behalf of Alice Parker and GIA Publications.
The Hymn Society Annual Conference, July 2019
Reading Session Presenter. ACDA Voices United conference.
Advanced SAB Literature, August 2018
Music in Worship, August 2015
It’s All About That Text. Workshop presentation.
Virginia Music Education Association Professional Development Day, April 2018
Hymnody in the 21st Century. Featured workshop.
Virginia Wesleyan University Sacred Music Conference, July, 2017
Raising the Song: Effective Song Leading Techniques for Teachers. In-service workshop.
Fairfax County Schools, April, 2016
Hymnody in the 21st Century. Workshop presentation.
ACDA Voices United regional conference, August, 2015