Ep. 54 - Affirming Identity Through Choral Music - Xiaosha Lin

"Every time on stage when we connect with the choral music and I see the students moved or touched by choral music, that's the moment I fall in love with choral music. The love of choral music is affirmed again and again by the connection you make with these humans and the music."Xiaosha Lin is currently assistant professor and director of choral activities at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Prior to her appointment at Whitworth, she served as Director of Choral Activities at the University of Toledo and Assistant Conductor at Hong Kong Baptist University.Known as a dynamic conductor with her engaging rehearsal approach and expressive conducting, Lin was selected as a conducting fellow in several prestigious programs where she worked with Simon Carrington, Edith Copley, David Hayes, and Lucinda Carver. She was one of the semi-finalists in the national ACDA Graduate Student Conducting Competition in Kansas City, MO. As a chorister, she has performed regularly at the Kimmel Center, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center under the batons of Yannick Nézet Séguin, Alan Gilbert, Simon Rattle, and Jane Glover. Lin is a sought-after conductor, adjudicator, and choral clinician in both the U.S. and China, where she was invited to workshops and clinics for all levels of choirs. She has frequently adjudicated in middle and high school choral festivals in Pacific Northwest and Midwest regions. Lin’s international background makes her an open-minded, sensitive, and well-rounded musician and educator. She is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community through choral music. She recently received the Inclusive Excellence Faculty Award for the 2022-2023 academic year at Whitworth University and currently serves as a member of the Diversity Initiative Committee at WA-ACDA.Lin received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at Michigan State University, Master of Music in Choral Conducting at Westminster Choir College, Master of Arts in Music at Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong), and Bachelor of Music Education at Xinghai Conservatory of Music (China).   To get in touch with Xiaosha, you can find her on Instagram (@xiaosha_lin) or email her at xlin@whitworth.edu. Choir Fam wants to hear from you! Check out the Minisode Intro Part 2 episode from May 22, 2023, to hear how to share your story with us. Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson