In a time when questions of representation, authenticity, and appropriation are front and center, choral organizations may be unsure of the best way to sing and present the stories of people different from themselves. This session will highlight the complexities in showcasing women’s stories from the perspective of a mixed choir, offering a thoughtful, nuanced discussion of how choirs can responsibly and meaningfully elevate women’s voices while fostering dialogue rather than division. Choral music offers a special opportunity to its singers: we do not simply observe the story we are telling; we embody it. When mixed choirs perform works by women, especially those rooted in women’s lived experiences, the act becomes more than artistic interpretation; it becomes participation in a shared human narrative.
All Together Now: Mixed Choirs Singing the Songs of Women
Jocelyn Hagen
Jocelyn Hagen composes music that has been described as "simply magical" (Fanfare Magazine) and "dramatic and deeply moving" (Star Tribune, Minneapolis/St. Paul). She is a pioneer in the field of composition, pushing the expectations of musicians and audiences with large-scale multimedia works, electro-acoustic music, dance, and opera. Her melodic music is rhythmically driven and texturally complex, rich in color, and deeply heartfelt. A champion of the female spirit, many of her projects focus on the stories of women. She is a cofounder of Graphite Publishing and the band Nation, singing her heart out every chance she gets.
Heather Buchanan
Heather J. Buchanan, PhD, an Australian-born conductor and the professor of music and director of choral activities at Montclair State University, where she conducts choirs ranging in size from 24 to 150 voices. Choirs under her direction have won critical acclaim for their "heartfelt conviction," "grace and precision," "vibrant sound," and for singing with the "crispness and dexterity of a professional choir." Her choirs have collaborated with a variety of renowned national and international performing artists, perform masterworks regularly with the New Jersey Symphony, and have sung on commercially produced recordings with Meredith Monk (Songs of Ascension) and NJS (Carmina Burana & Verdi Requiem). A Licensed Body Mapping Educator since 2002, Dr. Buchanan specializes in this neuro-anatomical educational technique, which trains musicians to attain freedom of expression through effective movement.
Michael Costello
Michael D. Costello is a distinguished church musician, conductor, composer, and pastor whose work reflects a deep commitment to the intersection of music and liturgical life. Costello has served since 2008 as cantor at Grace Lutheran Church and School in River Forest, Illinois, directing a comprehensive music program and leading the renowned Bach Cantata Vespers series, presenting the sacred works of J. S. Bach within a liturgical context. In addition to parish responsibilities, Costello is artistic director of Consonance Chicago and remains active as a singer, conductor, and educator. Costello's compositions for choir and organ are published by several major sacred music publishers. Costello's work is marked by musical excellence, theological sensitivity, and a commitment to fostering congregational song and choral artistry.
Robert Istad
Robert Istad, a Grammy Award-winning conductor who "fashions fluent and sumptuous readings" (Voice of OC) with his "phenomenal" artistry (Los Angeles Times) was appointed Pacific Chorale's artistic director in 2017. Under his leadership, the chorus continues to expand its reputation for delivering fresh, thought-provoking interpretations of beloved masterworks, rarely performed gems, and newly commissioned pieces. Istad's newest project, the inventive choral-theatrical concert film "To the Hands," premiered as an official selection of the 2025 Newport Beach Film Festival and will receive its commercial release in early 2026. An esteemed educator, Istad is professor of music and director of choral studies at California State University, Fullerton, where he was recognized as CSUF's 2016 Outstanding Professor of the Year.
