Choral Podcast Spotlight: Conduct(her) Podcast

Please introduce yourselves and your podcast!

Kyra & McKenna: conduct(her) is a podcast by two sisters on a mission to amplify female voices on the podium. We interview female and female ally mentors, teachers, and conductors in the music world while exploring the gender divide. We are passionate about the field of choral music and wanted to create a tangible resource to help inspire and motivate others. McKenna Stenson is the older sister, currently the Associate Director of Choral Studies at the University of Kansas. Kyra Stahr is the younger sister, currently a 2nd year MM student in Choral Music at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

( E P . 2 ) I N T E R V I E W W I T H D R . A P F E L S T A D T

What speakers are featured in season one?

Dr. Tram Sparks, Dr. Brittney Boykin, Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt, Dr. Iris Levine, Dr. Deanna Joseph, Sierra Farquhar-Wulff, Dr. Kari Adams, Dr. Jennifer Sengin, Dr. Amanda Quist, Dr. Jessica Nápoles, Dr. MaryHannah Klontz, and Dr. Jace Kholokula Saplan.

( E P . 3 ) I N T E R V I E W W I T H D R . S P A R K S What is the mission of your podcast?

Our mission is to amplify female voices on the podium. We believe that representation matters and our goal is to highlight the many successful women in the field. The conversation with each guest is usually a combination of discussion about music as a career, questions about the guest, humor, and advice for others in our field. It has been important to unpack each guest's musical journey and how they ended up where they are today. We always ask about overcoming obstacles in the field of choral music and end with the same “fast five” questions. We had twelve fantastic guests featured on season one and each episode was unique and wonderful!

What audience does conduct(her) aim to reach?

Anyone and everyone who is interested in choral music and the advocacy of women in our field. We recently discovered that conduct(her) is being featured in a leadership class as well. This podcast truly is for everyone!

What excites you about this new generation of choral conductors?

There are many new voices who are not afraid to be authentically themselves. In general, there is less ego and more emphasis on teaching the whole person.

Which guest tells the best stories? Who has been your funniest guest?

We feel that Dr. Levine had some of the best stories. She was a natural interviewee and had so many meaningful and vulnerable things to share! In particular, we enjoyed hearing about her journey as a member of the LGBTQIA community in our field.

I am interested in getting my own podcast started... what should I know? Do you have any tips?

After deciding a topic, we would highly advise investing in a nice microphone and headphone setup. We did this later into our first season and if we could go back we would have purchased a blue yeti mic from day one! It has made a world of difference in our final product and clarity of sound. Although it can be daunting to begin, just dive in and do not be afraid to ask for help. We reached out to friends and introduced ourselves to current podcasters to ask for advice. Dr. Jace Saplan was one of our most informative guests who also kept deep conversation balanced with laughter and joy. After we finished recording it felt like Jace would be a great person to go have a coffee or happy hour beverage with and hear more about their life story!

What have you learned about the female experience through your guests?

We have learned so much from season one. One of our takeaways is to lean into vulnerability. Listening to our guests share their struggles and joys helped us to be more open in sharing our authentic feelings with graduate students and ensemble members. Sometimes we find ourselves tempted to divide feelings from teaching. This season taught us that sharing our stories and experiences with our students is empowering. This season also taught us that if there is a will, there is a way. There is no one direct path to success in this industry, and if you have the drive and ability to ask for help, there will be people to support you.

What about podcasting brings you the most joy?

Partnering as sisters and bringing the many stories of our female conductors into the world. If we had access to these stories when we were younger music educators, we would have had more confidence entering the field of choral conducting. We hope these episodes answer questions, provide joy, and inspire others to follow their passions.

Do female voices hold unique value in the choral community?

Absolutely, they do. We know from speaking with Sierra Farquar-Wolff that only 17% of four-year institutions have women directors. Instead of rising, the number of female-identifying choral directors at the collegiate level has dropped by 7.05% between 2006-2020. Representation is important, and we need women to know that there are people out in the field who are just like them managing careers in addition to personal goals. These statistics only speak to a decline in higher education, but women in primary and secondary spaces need to see this representation as well. As we move forward our seasons will be inclusive of directors and teachers at all levels.

McKenna Stenson

As an innovative conductor, teacher, and vocalist, McKenna Stenson has built a career inspiring students to sing with confidence and motivating communities to create lasting change through song. Stenson currently serves on the faculty at the University of Kansas (KU) as the Associate Director of Choral Activities where she conducts the KU Glee Club and Oread Singers. In addition to leading ensembles, Stenson teaches classes in graduate choral methods, undergraduate conducting, and voice.

Prior to her appointment at KU, Stenson was a DMA student in Choral Conducting at the University of North Texas (UNT) where she studied under Dr. Allen Hightower, Dr. Kristina MacMullen, and Dr. Jessica Nápoles. Stenson enjoys serving as a guest conductor, clinician, presenter, and adjudicator for choirs throughout the United States and abroad. Recent engagements include teaching internationally with “Music Across the Pond” and directing the KMEA Kansas Treble All-State Honor Choir. McKenna & Kyra

Kyra Stahr

Kyra Stahr is a second-year MM student in Choral Music at The University of Southern California. Stahr graduated from Miami University, where she earned her B.M. in Music Education and Vocal Performance, and a dual minor in Special Education and Musical Theater. At Miami, she led an inclusive choir for adults with disabilities and was awarded the 2017 "Outstanding Future Music Educator" honor, graduating summa cum laude.

Stahr is from Arlington, Virginia where she was choral director at Bishop O'Connell High School for three years. She serves as the Associate Director of the South Bay Children’s Choir, and enjoys adjudicating and guest conducting. At USC, Kyra is Associate Conductor of the Oriana Choir, serves on the USC Thornton Student Council, and is the ACDA student chapter president. Recently, she was selected for the 2022 ACDA Eastern Graduate Conducting Masterclass and was awarded the USC Thornton Chamber Singers Ensemble Award.