We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kyra Stahr & McKenna Stenson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kyra & McKenna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

conduct(her) is the most meaningful project we have ever worked on. Our mission is to amplify women’s voices on the podium, as we believe that representation matters. Our goal is to highlight the many successful women in the field of choral conducting and to address the significant gender equity gap in choral music. By showcasing the talents, struggles, and successes of women in the choral community, we aim to create new opportunities that support gender diversity and inspire future women conductors.
Partnering as sisters to share the stories of women conductors brings us immense joy. If we had access to these interviews when we were younger music educators, we would have felt more confident entering the field of choral conducting. We hope these episodes answer questions, bring joy, and inspire others to follow their passions.

Kyra & McKenna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

We are two sisters and conductors, Kyra Stahr and McKenna Stenson, co-founders and creators of the conduct(her) podcast. Growing up with two professional musicians—our mother, a choral director, and our father, a trumpet player in the U.S. Army Band Pershing’s Own—gave us a unique perspective on the struggles and determination needed to succeed in the music industry. We are also keenly aware of the additional obstacles that women face, such as gender-based discrimination, lack of representation, family leave policies, and the need for self-advocacy.
Our podcast serves as a resource for women and women-allies in the choral world by sharing the stories of those who have succeeded and sparking honest conversations about the challenges they have faced. Together, we have launched three seasons of episodes, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being artists is building relationships with others. As choral conductors, we strive to empower our students to achieve their musical goals and become the best versions of themselves. Teaching is incredibly fulfilling, and there is indescribable meaning in seeing our students go into the world and become change-makers. Some of the most special moments come when past students reach out to share the amazing things they have accomplished since we taught them.
Choral music, in particular, is rewarding because of the repertoire we perform. By programming unique pieces that balance tradition with new compositions, we give students the chance to see themselves reflected in our work. Representation matters, and as choral conductors, we have the privilege of facilitating spaces where our students feel seen and heard.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Many resources have influenced our management and entrepreneurial thinking for the conduct(her) podcast. Two of the most impactful books have been Art and Science in the Choral Rehearsal by Dr. Sharon Paul and Wisdom, Wit, and Will combined and edited by Joan Catoni Conlon. In addition to books and journal articles, our business philosophy has also been shaped by many of our podcast guests. Jennifer Rosenblatt, a guest on Season 3 and co-founder of the music publishing company MusicSpoke, has been an invaluable mentor and business coach as we continue to develop the conduct(her) platform. We have compiled a complete list of resources that have influenced us on our website at conducther.com/resources.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://conducther.com
• Instagram: conduct.her.pod
• Facebook: conduct.her
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@conduct.her.podcast?si=YYRKs9Ee96-0xoww
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kzh2jJs6KoJtMKwklrjld?si=48ec0567dbf8473f
  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conduct-her/id1626403509

Image Credits

Kyra’s Headshot by Yu Hang Tan
McKenna’s Headshot by Sara Boyd