We are speaking to Whitney Lee Moeller, the Artistic Director of the Council Oak Men’s Chorale. COMC is historically the gay men’s choir in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Alright, Whitney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

As a child, I found great comfort in the arts as a form of self expression. My parents supported my interests and encouraged me as I pursued theatre camps, singing, and instrumental music. In high school I became very driven and laser focused on my musical pursuits, almost to a fault. As an adult, I have had to learn to let go of some of my perfectionism and embrace the chaos from time to time. I had a variety of music teachers growing up. Some inspired me and lit a fire in me to learn more. Others showed me what I did not want to be. At graduation I was still torn between instrumental and vocal music, but I knew I wanted to pursue music education. I ended up double majoring in vocal and instrumental music education at Oklahoma City University. OCU was a magnificent place for me to pursue my passion, gain experience, and develop my skills. I am still extremely grateful for the time I spent there and the relationships that were cultivated.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Following graduation from OCU, I taught 6th-12th grade vocal music in a small town called Mannford, Oklahoma. I fell in love with choral music all over again as I shared it with young people. A few years later, I completed a master’s degree from the University of Central Missouri in music education with emphasis in conducting. I gained more experience with teaching choral music and private music lessons in a variety of different schools and programs before landing in my current position. In addition to my work with Council Oak, I teach music for Glenpool Public Schools and perform as a staff singer for St. John’s Episcopal church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Conducting Council Oak Men’s Chorale has been an absolute thrill. I’ve discovered a whole new level of satisfaction and purpose in the intersection of my work as a choral conductor and as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. We are cultivating such a beautiful and thriving family atmosphere that radiates love, friendship, and a passion for choral excellence. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to make music with these talented and enthusiastic singers and I thank them every chance I get.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2019 I lost a job unexpectedly due to budgeting concerns. It was the last week of school when they made the decision, which meant I had already missed out on the opportunity to apply at other schools. It was made particularly difficult by the fact that my wife lost her job unexpectedly on the exact same day. We both struggled to find fulfilling work and pay the bills for several years as the pandemic 0f 2020 exacerbated the problem. I’m extremely grateful to have made it through that time.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I lost that job in 2019 and struggled to find work I went through a very deep depression. The core belief I had to unlearn is that my occupation defines who I am. I had to learn how to have purpose in my life that was not tied to my profession. It was a difficult journey, but I now feel more fulfilled and more grateful every time I have the opportunity to make music in a professional capacity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://counciloak.org
• Instagram: counciloakmenschorale
• Facebook: Council Oak Men’s Chorale
• Linkedin: wleemoeller

Image Credits

Allison Kendall Photography and Maddie Breedlove Photography