What happens when a choral piece becomes so wildly popular that choir directors start refusing to program it? We like to tell ourselves that our repertoire choices are based on objective artistic standards…
…but all too often, artists fall into a familiar trap: the moment a piece captures the public imagination or goes viral on social media, we label it “overdone,” roll our eyes, and look for something more obscure. But, for students and amateur singers this could be a missed opportunity, or even create a disconnect.
Today on the show, I’m joined by composer and lyricist Jennifer Lucy Cook to unpack that instinct and explore what it really means to bridge the gap between tradition and modern culture. Jen’s choral music has swept across social media, reaching millions of young singers who discovered pieces like Time not through conference reading sessions, but through viral TikTok trends. At the same time, she works actively in musical theatre, film, and commercial music, bringing a refreshing, boundary-pushing perspective to the choral world.
In this conversation, Jen and I dig into why choir should be treated as a versatile medium rather than a rigid genre, the technical craft behind writing an earworm versus classical counterpoint, and why directors shouldn’t shy away from music that connects deeply with singers. We also talk about vocal versatility—from traditional choral tone to healthy pop belt—and get a preview of her upcoming concert at Carnegie Hall, where she’s bringing Broadway collaborators and unexpected styles directly to the classical stage. Here is my conversation with Jennifer Lucy Cook.
Whether you are a conductor striving for a unified ensemble sound or a singer trying to navigate choral spaces without sacrificing your vocal health, this conversation offers a grounded path through one of the most polarized debates in choral music. Tune in, and let’s keep the dialogue going.
Be Sure to Find Choralosophy on TikTok!
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and Facebook
Jennifer Lucy Cook (she/her) is currently writing music and lyrics for a new comedy musical created alongside double-Tony nominee Tye Blue, the writer-director behind Titanique. In April she will headline as composer and conductor at Carnegie Hall on a program devoted to her music to be performed by a 250-person choir. Cook is developing a new pop musical with Grammy-winner Abigail Barlow and an animated musical with Riki Lindhome.
She worked with Alan Menken on his solo show, A Whole New World of Alan Menken which premiered at the London Palladium and has toured around the world. With Hollywood Bowl director/producer Richard Kraft, Jen co-wrote on an original two-person musical Out of Toon, and she contributed songs to the sold-out show Willy’s Candy Spectacular at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Cook’s music has found an audience on TikTok, where songs from her original musical Salem, her choral piece “Time”, and her musical recaps of The Bachelor have garnered millions of views. She is currently the composer-in-residence for the Phoenix Chorale, and is based in Los Angeles.
• Info about singing with me at Carnegie Hall next April
• The album that I just put out with the University of Southern Maine
• Pattern in the Pandemonium
• My social media on Instagram and TikTok
• The new Phoenix Chorale album coming out soon that features my music (FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT THIS BUT IT’S COOL! lol) (More info here)
@choralosophypodca