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The Superpower of the Introverted Choral Conductor

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me. I had no idea that someone like me could belong, about charisma; it is about preparation.” These three
especially in a leadership role. luminaries demonstrate that introverted-leaning per-
In high school, I threw myself into sports, trying to sonalities are not a limitation in the choral field. They
find my place socially. Music was always there, a steady can, in fact, be a profound source of strength.
hum in the background, but I definitely didn’t see it as There is not much formal research on introversion
a potential career. It took the encouragement of a few in the choral conducting world (which says something
great teachers, a little nudge from the universe, and a lot in itself), but studies suggest that as many as half of the
of courage to shift direction. I switched my college ma- general population identify as such. Whether that ratio
jor from business to music education, and the journey holds true for conductors is unclear, even though the
was on. Still, after years of teaching and conducting, I public-facing nature of the role seems to be a natural
was trying to lead with borrowed energy, believing that draw to the extrovert archetype. In any case, I suspect
more outward energy equaled better leadership. It took there are many more than we realize; we just show up
time to understand that my quieter, more introspective differently. Looking back, I can see how my quieter
nature was a strength, not a limitation. tendencies shaped my path—not as a detour, but as a
This journey of self-discovery has shaped how I ap- different entry point into leadership.
proach leadership as a conductor, particularly as an in-
trovert. To fully understand the value of introversion in
this role, it’s important to first define what introversion How Introversion Shines:
looks like in the context of a choral conductor. A Culture of Safety and Trust
In rehearsal, introverted leadership often creates a
culture of listening. I don’t fill every space with com-
Defining Introversion mentary. I let silence do some of the work. That space
in a Conductor Context signals to singers that their presence matters. Their
When I use the word introvert, I’m working from a voices, both musical and personal, are respected. I’ve
fairly standard definition: someone who tends to re- found that singers rise to greater heights when they’re
charge through solitude, is more inwardly focused, and trusted. They don’t need to be micromanaged. They
may find large social settings draining over time. A need to be heard. One strength of a conductor is to
common misunderstanding is that it’s about shyness or notice when energy dips or when something deeper is
a lack of people skills. Many introverts, myself includ- at play in a rehearsal. The sensitivity of an introvert-
ed, thrive in public leadership roles; we just tend to lead ed conductor to the singers’ energy can help shape a
more introspectively. Weston Noble, Alice Parker, and rehearsal space that feels safe, open, and honest. It’s a
Robert Shaw come to mind as choral conductors who slow burn kind of leadership, but the impact runs deep.
led strongly yet quietly. There is research to support the idea that introvert-
Their careers offer compelling evidence of intro- ed leaders outperform their extroverted counterparts at
verted leadership in action. Weston Noble, for exam- times. Introverts tend to listen more and encourage oth-
ple, was known for his humble, grounded, and gentle ers to take initiative, and as a result, people under their
presence on the podium. His leadership was rooted in leadership often feel more empowered and invested in
deep listening and service to the ensemble rather than the process. I remember a student from a recent honor
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command or charisma. Alice Parker often spoke about choir standing quietly off to the side, visibly reserved
the inward, contemplative nature of her creative pro- and unsure. I didn’t rush toward her with high energy
cess, stating, “I always find my truest musical self alone or try to coax them into a forced conversation. I simply
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… music is born in silence.” Robert Shaw was intense- met her eyes and offered a small, grounding nod. Later
ly introspective. His writings reveal a conductor more that day, she approached me and said, “Being noticed
concerned with the intellectual approach of the artist meant so much. I love singing, but I am incredibly shy.
than with outward showmanship: “Conducting is not Thank you for seeing me.” It was a powerful reminder

44 CHORAL JOURNAL November/December 2025 Volume 66 Number 4