Is there even such a thing as “Ethical Gatekeeping?” In modern discourse, the term seems to always be a negative. Maybe some gates need a keeper.
Today’s conversation hits incredibly close to home as we pull back the curtain on power dynamics, public perception, and the hidden structures that dictate taste and legitimacy in choral music.
Joining the show is Dr. Samuel Grace, a conductor and music director from Minnesota whose recent doctoral dissertation directly explores the theoretical models of network gatekeeping in our field. He breaks down the multi-layered pipeline of how music gets created, how publishers and professional organizations decide what gets heavily marketed, and how peer conversations ultimately influence what you choose to put on your concert programs.
While contemporary popular culture tends to use “gatekeeping” strictly as a pejorative term for exclusion, we look at it through a rigorous academic lens—as an unavoidable, organic force that manages information overload and shapes cultural value.
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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
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Samuel Grace is a Twin Cities-based conductor known for his thirst for new music and creative collaborations. Samuel serves as Director of Music Ministry at St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church where he oversees four choirs. He is also Founding Artistic Director of MPLS (imPulse). Now in its 12th season, MPLS (imPulse) builds choral communities by performing living music, embracing the singer experience, and fostering novel collaborations. In his free time, Samuel can often be found riding his bike or cooking with his family. Samuel holds degrees from Gustavus Adolphus College (B.A.), The University of Minnesota (M.M.), and Indiana University (D.M.).
@choralosophypodca