The New Editorial Board of the IFCM Choral Magazine
Sinem Erenturk, London, Türkiye/United Kingdom
Sinem began her career as a young journalist in Türkiye’s only English newspaper at the time, then moved to Pharma where she worked for 15 years covering many roles, mostly dealing with digital marketing. Her life changed dramatically after becoming a mum to twin boys and moving to London with her family 6 years ago where she’s a member of a local writers’ group in Richmond. Sinem has been singing since she was 8 years old in various choirs from children’s choirs and youth choirs in Ankara to mixed choirs in Istanbul and then currently in a philharmonic choir in West London. Recently, Sinem was head of communications in the successful launch of WSCM Istanbul 2023.
As a choral enthusiast, in the editorial board of IFCM, she’s looking forward to hopefully bring new perspectives to the spread of choral music around the world, which she sees as an important enabler for a truly connected world.
Aksel Tollåli, Oslo, Norway
I am a musicologist and writer based in Oslo, as well as the President of Ung i Kor, the Norwegian association of children’s and youth choirs. My main line of work is as a freelance music critic for various outlets, where I cover classical music and opera, both live and recorded performances. In addition, I am a tenor in the Oslo-based Kammerkoret NOVA as well as in other, project-based choirs.
I am passionate about music criticism, and as a member of ICB’s Editorial Board, my main goal is to use reviews to capture the sheer diversity of the wider choral world.
Ana María Raga, Caracas, Venezuela
I am a Venezuelan conductor, lecturer, and leader of several music initiatives. My passion is Transformation: of a student, a choral work, a choir, and I enjoy working on this in every setting, especially as college professor. As choral conductor, I find it fascinating how singers are transformed through the rehearsing method. I feel honoured to be part of the Editorial Board of IFCM’s prestigious magazine where I am willing to give ideas, not only with regards content but also the reach of the magazine. I believe that through the internet and other digital tools, the magazine can aid stronger interaction between choral actors (composers, conductors, choral singers, music publishers, choral events, choral audience). Let’s go!
Arjay Viray, Dasmarinas Cavite, Philippines
I am Arjay Viray from the Philippines. I currently teach at Guang Ming College in Tagaytay City, Cavite where I deal with Choir, Musicianship, and Music Theory classes. I sang with the World Youth Choir from 2008 to 2011. I hold a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting and am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Curriculum Studies. Music and writing are two things that I have always been passionate about and being in the Editorial Board of the International Choral Magazine allows me to pursue both.
Tomoko Yokoyama, Tokyo, Japan
Dear readers, as a choral singer since childhood and a member of the Japan Choral Association’s International Committee, it is my honour and pleasure to be a member of the Editorial Board. I am an English-Japanese conference interpreter with experience in corporate communication at a global company. We certainly live in a flood of information these days, but I believe that “old-fashioned” media like magazines are still valuable (or even more so) as a source of trustable information. I hope I can play a small part there.
Godfred Edusei Derkyi, Accra, Ghana
I have been associated with the IFCM since 2006. I am a former adviser on Africa to the Board of IFCM, and a founding member of the Africa Federation for Choral Music. I am a retired Bank Executive and Board Chairman of the Winneba Youth Choir of Ghana. I am a published author of a number of award-winning books and a choral music enthusiast and organist. I hope to leverage my long connection with choral music associations, faculty, and enthusiasts in Africa to provide relevant African content in the future publications of the International Choral Magazine.
Dr Debra Shearer-Dirié, Queensland, Australia
I am delighted to be serving on the Editorial Board of the ICM. I have served as Editor of the Australian National Choral Association’s (ANCA) publication since 2008, collecting interesting articles and informing ANCA’s members of regional and national events. I am looking forward to bringing the choral activity of my region to the ICM and its readers. After receiving a Master of Music Education and Doctor of Music in Choral Conducting from Indiana University, USA, I returned to Australia to continue my career. I have been the Musical Director of the Brisbane Concert Choir since 2005, leading them on three international tours, founder and Musical Director of Fusion who performed at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Seoul, 2014, and Vintage Voices, a singing ensemble that has been enhancing the wellbeing of older people through music, song and performance since 2010. I have served as President of ANCA and am currently co-convenor of the ANCA biennial Research Conference.
Brett Scott, Cincinnati, USA
Originally from Canada, Brett Scott is Professor of Ensembles and Conducting at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Brett is in demand as a lecturer on 20th and 21st century music, with a focus on Canadian composers, and as a performer and interpreter of music by living composers. His authorized biography of composer, educator and soundscape activist R. Murray Schafer was published in 2019. An active writer, Brett has served as Associate Editor of The Choral Scholar and Chief Editor of The Research Memorandum Series. He is passionate about furthering research on choral music from around the world and developing the next generation of choral scholars.
The newly selected Editorial Board of the International Choral Magazine also includes IFCM Board Members Ana Patricia Carbajal Córdoba and Yveline Damas, as well as Jutta Tagger, Editor Emerita, Isabelle M.trope, Managing Editor, and Nadine Robin, IFCM Office Manager.
