CSU Choral Conducting Workshop
June 4-6, 2025
The Schwob Choral Conducting Workshop is designed to elevate the artistry and effectiveness of choral conductors. Led by Schwob faculty and distinguished guest clinicians, the workshop will feature conducting masterclasses and interactive sessions on rehearsal strategies, expressive conducting, and innovative programming. Participants will have the opportunity to conduct the semi-professional workshop ensemble, and receive constructive feedback in a supportive and collaborative environment. This immersive three-day workshop is designed for music educators, student conductors, church musicians, community ensemble leaders, and any conductor seeking to enhance their artistry.
Registration is limited to 20 conducting participants, who will be selected based on a first-come, first-served basis; the registration deadline is May 1, 2025. All participants will engage in conducting sessions with the semi-professional workshop choir, seminar sessions with faculty and will also receive conducting feedback in addition to video recordings of the conducting sessions.
Additionally, 20 auditor slots will be filled upon registration on a first-come, first-served basis. Auditors will be present for all conducting sessions and seminars, but will not conduct the ensembles.
Location and Parking: All sessions will be held at the Schwob School of Music, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts — 900 Broadway, Columbus, GA 31901. All masterclasses will take place in Legacy Hall, the beautiful 450-seat state-of-the-art concert space. Participants can park for free in the garage across from the School of Music.
Workshop Coordinator: Brandon Tharp (MM Choral Conducting Student)
CSU Faculty: Dr. David Hahn
Dr. David Hahn is the Paul S. and Jean R. Amos Distinguished Chair in Music and Director of Choral Activities at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University where he conducts the Schwob Singers, Choral Union, administers the graduate program in choral conducting, and teaches graduate conducting, choral literature, and undergraduate conducting. Prior to his appointment at CSU, Hahn served as the Director of Choral Activities (visiting) at the University of Toledo.
Recent honors include invitations to perform at the 2024 GA-ACDA State Conference as well as the 2025 GMEA In-Service State Conference. The Schwob Singers were also invited to serve as the resident choir for the graduate conducting masterclass at the National Collegiate Choral Organization‘s National Conference in 2023. Other notable conducting appearances include the Wintergreen Music Festival, The Dessoff Choirs, the Schwob Philharmonic, the Orchard Park Chorale, and ensembles at the Manhattan School of Music the Eastman School of Music, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the University of Michigan.
Hahn holds graduate degrees in conducting from the University of Michigan (DMA) and the Eastman School of Music (MM), and an undergraduate degree in vocal performance and sacred music with honors from Moody Bible Institute (BM) in Chicago, IL.
Guest Artist Faculty: Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand
Jason Max Ferdinand serves as the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Maryland, College Park. He assumed the role in the Fall of 2022. He is very humbled to be standing on the shoulders of his mentor, Edward Maclary, who has guided the choral program for 20+ years.
Jason Max Ferdinand, Professor – Conductor – Composer – Speaker, is the founding artistic director of The Jason Max Ferdinand Singers: An Ensemble of Exceptional Talents, and was the director of choral activities, chair of the music department and a full professor at Oakwood University, where he conducted the Aeolians of Oakwood University. He is a published author and composer with GIA Publications, featuring the book, Teaching with Heart: Tools for Addressing Societal Challenges Through Music, and The Jason Max Ferdinand Choral Series (Walton Music).
A native of Trinidad & Tobago, Ferdinand received his Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance from Oakwood College (now Oakwood University), his Master of Arts in Choral Conducting from Morgan State University and his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Maryland. He attributes a lot of his success to the many influential people and experiences that helped shape him into who he is today. Read more at: https://www.jmaxmusic.com
Guest Artist Faculty: Dr. Jennifer Sengin
Jennifer Sengin serves on the choral faculty in the role of Visiting Assistant Professor of Choral Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where she leads the graduate choral conducting program and conducts the flagship ensemble, Conservatory Singers, and the Choral Union. In addition to ensembles, Dr. Sengin teaches graduate choral conducting and choral literature. She has mentored multiple graduate students who have been successfully placed in professional positions, admitted to graduate programs, accepted to invited conference presentations, and selected to participate in conducting master classes.
Prior to coming to UMKC, Dr. Sengin most recently served as the Associate Director of Choral Activities at Georgia State University (GSU). Under her direction, the GSU Treble Choir (formerly Women’s Chorus) won first place in The American Prize and Dr. Sengin received 2nd place in conducting. The Treble Choir has been invited to perform at the National Collegiate Choral Organization Conference (2023) and twice at the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference (2020 and 2023). While at GSU, Dr. Sengin received two university-wide awards –the 2022-2023 Non-Tenure Track Faculty Achievement Award and the 2021-2022 GSU Instructional Effectiveness Award.
Dr. Sengin holds degrees from The College of New Jersey (BM Music Education), Ithaca College (MM Choral Conducting), and Michigan State University (DMA Choral Conducting).
