Month: April 2025

Zoie Lee is making a name for herself as a Musical Theater performer, and triple-threat. While on break from the National Tour of Chicago, she stopped back in to her old choir room to talk to me about the role music education had in shaping her career.

This conversation explores the journey of a performer from their early experiences in dance to their current role in a Broadway National Tour. The discussion delves into the importance of choir in developing music literacy, professionalism, and vocal technique, as well as the challenges of stage fright and the realities of working in the performing arts. We also explore the intricate relationship between vocal training, musical theater, and the importance of choir in developing versatile singing skills. Zoie points out the various styles of singing required in different musicals, the journey from high school to professional theater, and the significance of environment and education in shaping a performer’s career. This episode also touches on:

• Preparation is key to overcoming performance anxiety.
• Professionalism in the arts involves both independence and guidance.
• Work-life balance is a continuous challenge for artists.

🎧 Tune in now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!

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Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope

Be Sure to Find Choralosophy on TikTok!

For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!

Zoie Lee is a professional dancer and musical theater performer originally from Kansas City Missouri. Zoie studied Musical Theater at AMDA in New York City. Her professional credits include: National Tours: Chicago the Musical (Go-To-Hell Kitty), Anastasia (Ensemble/US Odette), Cruise Ship Contracts: Jersey Boys (Swing), Regent Splendor (Singer/Dancer), and contracts for Cedar Fair Ent. At Worlds of Fun as a Singer/Dancer. Zoie is currently playing Go-To-Hell-Kitty on the National Tour of Chicago touring the US, Canada, and Mexico!

Zoie grew up in Lee’s Summit Missouri where she attended Lee’s Summit High School. Zoie began her singing career her sophomore year when Chris Munce convinced her to try choir after performing in the fall musical. She joined the Women’s Choir as a 10th grader and eventually sang in both auditioned chamber choirs the high school choir department offered-Preludium and Sounds of Summit. Zoie began her dance training at three years old at Heart of America Dance Center in Lee’s Summit and danced there for 15 years. Her training there consisted of all styles of dance and she was a highly competitive dancer for 10 years. After graduating high school in 2019, Zoie studied Music Theater at AMDA in New York City on scholarship. She graduated from the conservatory in 2021 and immediately started her professional career. 

Zoie is currently playing Go-To-Hell-Kitty on the National Tour of Chicago touring the US, Canada, and Mexico! 

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Recently named one of the 100 most influential Africans, Ken Wakia joins me to share his story as a Kenyan Choral musician and founder of the successful Nairobi Chamber Chorus.

In this episode I am honored to speak with Ken Wakia, a prominent choir director from Kenya. Ken shares his inspiring journey from a small village by Lake Victoria where he was literally FORCED to sing in choir, to becoming a recognized international figure in choral music. He discusses the cultural perceptions of music education in Africa, the evolution of choral music, and the impact of the Nairobi Chamber Chorus. Ken emphasizes the importance of music as a tool for communication and understanding across cultures, and reflects on the recognition he has received for his contributions to the field. This episode also touches on:

• Choral music has deep roots in African culture, predating formal choirs.
• The Nairobi Chamber Chorus aims to reflect Kenya’s diverse cultures.
• Recognition in the arts can change perceptions of value in music.
• Ken’s father initially disapproved of his music career choice.
• The unique organizational structure of the Nairobi Chamber Chorus

🎧 Tune in now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!

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Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope

Be Sure to Find Choralosophy on TikTok!

For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!

Named one of the top 100 most influential people in Africa for the year 2024, by the New African Magazine, Ken has a rich and diverse career, blending expertise in music, cultural diplomacy, and education, with extensive leadership roles in both the arts and public sector.

Ken holds a Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of Miami, Florida, where he studied with Prof. Jo-Michael Scheibe as a Fulbright Scholar, and a Bachelor of Education degree in music from Kenyatta University, Nairobi. He is very proud of his early academic life studying under a tree at Ruga Primary School in Homabay before going to Mumias Complex Primary School and eventually to Musingu High School in Kakamega.

He started his career teaching music at Precious Blood Girls Secondary School in Nairobi and later as the Assistant Dean of Students at the Africa Nazarene University

Ken has an extensive local and international conducting credits as guest conductor and the founding director for the Nairobi Chamber Chorus (NCC) and the Safaricom workplace choir. He has conducted the Nairobi Music Society and the Nairobi Orchestra at various concerts in Nairobi.

In 2017, Ken conducted the World Youth Choir on their tour of Hungary and the Balkan states while in February 2020, he conducted the International Schools of Southern and Eastern Africa in Zambia.

Under his leadership, NCC has performed to audiences in Africa and beyond. They represented Kenya at the Queen of England’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations at Windsor Castle in 2012 and at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National conference in Kansas City in 2019. He has also led the choir on tours through Europe, Saudi Arabia, the USA, Australia, China, Hongkong, South Korea and Japan in 2025 performing with the World of Hans Zimmer and Hans Zimmer Live productions.

A strong believer in the power of music as a tool for global change, Ken is known for leading several initiatives and collaborations which bring diverse musicians together to share their cultural heritage and explore new music together. His deliberate eclectic style of programming reflects his passion for choral music as a tool for global peace.

Alongside Dr. Kevin Fenton from Florida State University, he co-founded AVoice4Peace project which seeks to promote non-violent resolutions to conflict around the world through music.

Ken founded the Nairobi Chamber Chorus with a vision of enabling young Kenyans to participate in a high-quality musical forum from which they can build their careers and expand their realm of knowledge and interest in the arts. Since its inception, more than three hundred young Kenyans have gone through NCC and many are now leading musicians in Kenya, performing and teaching music across the country and beyond.

His work at Precious Blood Girls’ High School saw him significantly contribute to the development of the school’s musical program and its community outreach, including establishing an annual benefit concert to support underprivileged students.

In public diplomacy, Ken made significant contributions as the Cultural and Educational Affairs Specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi between 2010 and 2022 where he managed a wide range of cultural diplomacy programs for the US State Department.

With a solid foundation in both arts and diplomacy, combined with a deep commitment to education and community engagement, Ken’s professional profile reflects a dynamic and impactful career that bridges cultural exchange through music.

As a result of Ken’s dedication to promoting Kenyan and African choral music internationally through the Nairobi Chamber Chorus, he was recognized as one of the top100 most influential people in Africa for the year 2024. He was also recognized as the 2019 African Image Maker by the Voice Achievers Award International.

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A blind teacher’s take on Is “music” reading or “sight” reading important enough to provide resources to both blind and sighted students alike? One visually impaired music educator says yes!

Re Robinson, a blind choir director from Florida, shares her unique journey in music education. She discusses her experiences as a choir student and now as a teacher, emphasizing the importance of representation, adaptability, and cultural diversity in music. Re highlights her teaching methods, which incorporate ear training and Braille music, and reflects on the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals in the music profession. Her mission is to create a safe and inclusive environment for her students, encouraging them to embrace their identities while also learning about others. In this episode we discuss

• The impact that musical growth can have on personal growth
• She emphasizes the importance of adaptability in overcoming perceived limitations.
• The use of both Braille music and ear training in her teaching.
• How inclusivity impacts her programming choices
• The challenge of resources for blind musicians
• That reading is not just for sighted students

🎧 Tune in now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!

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Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope

Be Sure to Find Choralosophy on TikTok!

For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!

Re Robinson has been involved in music her entire life. From the age of 15, she was singing and performing. In high school, she was a member of the prestigious Jacksonville Children’s Chorus. Under the tutelage of Carolyn Wells, Melissa Barns, and Darren Dailey, Re learned the basics of music and harmony, as well as how to navigate the very visual aspects of performing as a blind singer.

Always eager to take on new challenges and break through barriers, Ms. Robinson chose to study dance and movement, piano, and voice. Her musical talents were further developed while singing in her high school choirs at both The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind and St. Augustine High School. She was one of the first blind students to be accepted into a Florida All State Choir. Re flourished under the instruction of Leslie Costello and Jeff Dodd, so it was no surprise that she was accepted into the music program at Florida State University after graduating as the salutatorian of her class.

In college, she continued her vocal studies with Dr. Evan Jones and took on the ambitious task of studying choral conducting. Knowing this was an extraordinary path to take, Re threw herself into her studies and learned to navigate this very visual profession in the context of a non-visual conductor. This led her to seek the advice of many conductors and composers who have become her mentors, friends, and cheerleaders. She counts among these friends composer Roger Emerson, Cincinnati Youth Choir conductor Robin Lana, Leslie Costello, Laurie Wohl, Carolyn Wells, Midwest Center for Creative Arts director Wendi Dicken, Prof. LaKedria Lozano, and many others. They all consider Re to be a pioneer in the field of blind choral conductors and music education for students of all abilities.

Currently, MS. Robinson is a second-year middle school music educator at a school in south Florida. With her unique perspective, she continues to advocate for blind music students to have opportunities to pursue their goals in the field of music by calling for adaptive materials like braille music and theory books, and classroom assistants who can support both students and teachers. In addition, she advocates for diverse representation in the classroom by teaching her students as someone with a disability.

She continues to refine her educational philosophy, which includes building music literacy skills so that all students can become independent musicians. Re strongly reinforces the idea that students can grow through their mistakes; she encourages them to try to do their best without fear of failure. to encourage a sense of community and belonging, Re programs diverse and culturally responsive repertoire in an effort to make all students feel included in her program. This is so that students can see themselves represented in the program, but it is also so that they can have a window into the world beyond the classroom.

Outside of work, Re enjoys visiting with friends, listening to podcasts, reading, and relaxing with her guide dog, Realm.

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