This fall, Dr. Matthew Swope joined us as the director of choral activities. We sat down to get to know him as he shared insights about his musical journey, his approach to vocal health and his passion for fostering a sense of community through music. Get to know more about Dr. Swope’s vision for the choral program and what he hopes to bring to the Kent State community.
Can you tell us a bit about your musical background and how you got into choral conducting?
I have been making music since I was a child. Throughout elementary, middle and high school, I was active in a variety of choirs, bands, jazz bands and theatrical productions. My entrance into the world of conducting came through three key experiences during high school: conducting choirs when my teacher was absent, working as a student conductor for our symphonic band and serving as drum major of my high school marching band.
After high school, I attended Penn State University and pursued Bachelor of Arts degrees in music and classics and ancient Mediterranean studies as well as my Master of Music degree in voice performance and pedagogy and my music education certification. During my time at Penn State, I was blessed with some incredible mentors and valuable conducting experiences, including helping to prepare a choir for Mahler Symphony No. 2.
After graduating, I moved to Florida where I served as director of choral activities and performing arts department chair at Winter Park High School for 14 years. I was blessed to work with tremendous students and colleagues. Together we expanded the program to include eight choirs and two contemporary a cappella groups. I am so proud to have been a public school educator and believe so strongly in the merits and essential nature of the profession!
My last stop before arriving at Kent State was in pursuit of my Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). I believe that we are all lifelong learners, so my studies and work at CCM really helped me hone my craft and take a personal, musical inventory. My mentors, graduate cohort and students helped me grow and thrive through powerful experiences, from conducting the CCM Concert Orchestra and Ballet to preparing UC Cabaret Singers for a largescale musical theatre gala.
Upon graduating from CCM, I was humbled to be appointed as the director of choral activities at Kent State University. I am thrilled to be here and excited to strengthen and expand our choral program and performance opportunities. Currently, I conduct three ensembles: Kent State University Chorale, Coro Cantare and Kent Chorus. I also work with our skilled and passionate adjunct faculty who direct Cantique, Gospel Choir and Nova Jazz Singers.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of choral singing?
I believe the most important aspect of choral singing is engaging with our humanity. Music forces us to grapple with a wide range of emotions and to interact with a diverse array of topics. For example, this semester, Chorale is engaging with repertoire ranging from a Baroque piece about the harmony of the universe to a contemporary work addressing the complexities of digital surveillance.
As choral singers, we have the added gift of text to help us interact with our humanity. I believe that we have a responsibility to the poet/lyricist and the composer to be storytellers. Ultimately, it is our job to bring relevancy to each piece--be it ancient or contemporary—and to evoke a response within our audience.
How do you approach vocal health and development with your choirs?
My background is in voice performance and pedagogy, so vocal health is of paramount importance to me. While many of the students in the Kent State Choirs are music majors and have the opportunity to study with our wonderful voice faculty, we also have a lot of students pursuing disciplines outside of music as well as community members participating in Kent Chorus. For these folks, their primary voice instruction often comes from the choral director. I take that responsibility very seriously and always advocate for healthy vocal technique. Ultimately, it is all about cultivating an environment in which each singer has an awareness of their own instrument and, as a result, can optimize their individual potential within the greater whole.
How does participating in choirs help students be successful?
Here at Kent State, I teach three ensembles: Kent State University Choral, Kent Chorus and Coro Cantare. Although these three ensembles have different identities, they do share certain attributes that help students prepare for life beyond Kent State. For instance, performance skills help us to better communicate ourselves and express ourselves to potential employers as well as our colleagues and in everyday life. In addition, music really helps us get in touch with our feelings and our emotions in really understanding the world around us and how we relate to different people, different cultures and different life experiences. Finally, here at Kent State I believe that music really helps offer a sense of community to our students within the larger university as a whole.
What are your short-term and long-term goals for our choral program?
As I shared with the students on the first day of Chorale, I have three primary goals. First, to aspire to excellence. Second, to strengthen and expand our choral community. And finally, to be accountable to ourselves and each other. These priorities will help inform and actualize our longer-term goals.
In addition, I hope to grow the culture of student leadership within the choral program. This is essential as we prepare the next generation of music educators as well as young professionals to lead and shape the world around them.
Are there any specific projects or repertoire you are excited to explore with us?
At the moment, I'm looking forward to our initial choral concert on Saturday, October 26. This is the first time that the choirs get to introduce themselves to the greater community this semester and to sing with one another. I'm also really looking forward to some collaborative concerts with the KSU Orchestra both this and next semester.
What is your favorite piece to teach?
My favorite piece to teach is whatever piece I'm teaching at the moment! I believe that helps me really be fully present and really helps us understand how that work specifically connects to our greater world at this point in time. No matter if it's something that was written 300 years ago or something that was written three days ago, it really helps us bring our modern and fresh perspective. So for that reason, that's what I like to teach the most.
What are you looking forward to at Kent State?
What I'm most looking forward to at Kent State is to work with my students and my colleagues to continue to build the community both within the School of Music and expanding our reach beyond the School of Music into the greater Kent State community.
How do you plan to foster a sense of community within the choir?
With six choral ensembles, I truly believe that there is a place for anyone who wants to sing at Kent State. This even includes the opportunity for faculty, staff, alumni and community members to participate in Kent Chorus. Within the ensembles, we work to build community through team-building moments and affirmations. Singing inherently requires a heightened sense of vulnerability, so it is vital that we build a community in which everyone's voice is valued. I challenge the singers (and myself) to be fearless collaborators in our pursuit of storytelling through song.
In addition, we are strengthening a sense of community between the choirs through collaborative concerts and a retreat each semester that brings together students from different ensembles to make music together and grow in community.
What can you share with us that you wish people knew about choral studies?
Choral music is about so much more than just the music. Through choral music, we engage with literature, history and current events. We explore age-old questions and newly inspired emotions. Singing in a choir offers a sense of community and belonging. Choral ensembles teach teamwork as well as presentation and performance skills that are beneficial in a host of professions and life circumstances. As a result, I believe that everyone can benefit from singing in a choir. Thus, there is standing invitation for students, faculty, staff and community members to join our musical community!
Fun Fact about yourself?
I have slept in the Sahara Desert.
What is your advice for Future Flashes?
My advice for Future Flashes is, get involved when you start in a new environment. It's really important to find your place and find your sense of community. I really believe that in the choral area here at Kent State, we have a place for everyone. So, no matter what type of music you like or how you like to express yourself in terms of the arts, I believe that Kent State has a place for you. We can't wait to see you!
Kent State University’s Choirs has a longstanding tradition of excellence at Kent State University. The University has six main choirs that feature a wide variety of choral and vocal literature for people of all ages and experiences. Kent State University Chorale, Kent Chorus, Cantique, Coro Cantare, Nova Jazz Singers and Kent State University Gospel Choir. Learn more about our choirs at https://www.kent.edu/music/choirs.