Welcome One Voice Mixed Chorus’ New Artistic Director

One Voice Mixed Chorus is thrilled to announce a new Artistic Director — Kimberly Waigwa (addressed as Waigwa | they/them)!

One Voice shares, “Waigwa has the choral chops, creative mind, and fresh vision that will guide One Voice successfully in the years to come.”

About One Voice

One Voice is Minnesota’s only lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight allies’ chorus. The chorus was founded in 1988 and has 125 members ranging in age from 15 to 81. The intent behind the chorus is to “unite for a common goal of creating social change through music,” according to their website.

Waigwa’s Musical Background

Waigwa is a self-admitted “late choral bloomer.”

“As I’ve learned in getting to know the current One Voice singers, many folks from this area grew up singing in choir — church choir, school choir, show choir, a cappella,” they say. “I am not one of those people.”

In terms of singing, Waigwa never sang outside of their car or bedroom, and definitely not in front of other people. They saw a choir a few times when they were little, but they weren’t fully aware of the world of choral music.

“I stumbled into choral singing by accident,” says Waigwa. “While I didn’t grow up singing, I did grow up fascinated by the human voice. Different timbres, sizes, weights, and resonances always fascinated me.”

When Waigwa started college, they also started exploring operatic voices. This led to a comparison of vocals between a wide variety of genres. Waigwa had two roommates who eventually convinced them that they could pursue this interest — a realization Waigwa called “mind blowing.”

They auditioned for the choir at their college, a requirement for taking voice lessons. Despite having little to no knowledge of sight reading or classical voice work, by the end of the year, Waigwa had joined a GALA chorus. By the end of their writing degree, they were in three university ensembles.

How Waigwa Got Involved with One Voice

Despite not qualifying for a music education degree, Waigwa discovered conducting, which they describe as “the weird, silent art of waving your arms around.” This skill helped them “find a focused balance of voice and ensemble work” that led them to where they are now.

“It’s actually kind of a strange story,” says Waigwa. They were finishing their masters at Temple University in Philadelphia and as part of finishing the degree, their conducting professor gave them an assignment to find a job, real or not, to which they’d like to apply. That’s how they even knew the One Voice position was open.

“I figured, I’ll just search through the GALA gigs… and do my mock interview with that,” says Waigwa. “But as soon as I sent [the job opening] to [my professor], he was like, ‘So… did you set up this website yourself and claim it as an existing choir? It seems perfect for you.’”

Waigwa took a few days to prepare, hoping for at least one interview, but the process continued. Two rounds of interviews, an in-person audition, an adjusted masters’ exam, and here they are! Waigwa is the new Artistic Director of One Voice.

Excitement and Nerves

Waigwa has big dreams for the choir. “I think One Voice is committed to the challenge of growth, innovation, and continuing to live into our mission statement of building community and creating social change by raising our voices in song,” they say.

In addition to music experience, Waigwa is an educator with a focus on social justice through music making, including BIPOC and queer advocacy.

“It’s incredible to center my creativity and have my philosophical thoughts about music education, facilitating dialogue, and issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging be relevant again,” they say.

As for nerves, Waigwa says, “There are a lot of unknowns in creative work, so yes, I’m nervous about the season starting and truly taking the helm, but only because I’m dedicated to the work, want to do my best, and want to see us grow and thrive.”

Waigwa also says they’re actually not nervous at all, because, “stepping back into the role of an artistic director is like taking a full breath when I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath. It feels equally natural and affirming to be back.”

Waigwa’s Plans for the Future of One Voice

Waigwa brings a unique and powerful perspective to the choir. “Who I am as a person lies in the overlap between a variety of different worlds,” they say. “I lie beyond the binary and yet a product of it. I am the child of immigrant parents, Panamanian and Kenyan, which separates me from the typical American experience, as well as that of the American Black or Brown experience.

“I think the ways in which I have never been able to conform to societal expectations, simply as a product of the circumstances and characteristics that have made me me, is my strength as a leader.”

Waigwa loves that the vision guiding One Voice so far has been “immense, beautiful, and inspiring.” They also think it’s now time to analyze that history, especially focused within the Twin Cities, and “within the context of the current state of the world and strategize as far beyond the doors of a rehearsal space or risers on a stage as we possibly can.”

Upcoming Performances

One Voice has two major concerts this year: Dark Night, Star Bright on January 20th and 21st at the Cowles Center, Goodale Theater. The second is The Art of Joy on June 22nd and 23rd at the Ordway. The latter will celebrate One Voice’s 35th anniversary.

One Voice will also perform at the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) Festival July 10th through the 14th, the first such festival in eight years.

“One Voice has long been a pillar in the choral world, both for its programming and for its size,” says Waigwa, “So I’m excited to guide and develop this brand-new chapter.”