By Torben Heinbockel ’26
St. Paul’s School for Boys Upper School welcomed Mr. Tom Ford as the new Upper School Choral Director, marking an exciting time for the school’s music program, which has long been recognized for excellence and heart. Mr. Ford shared his thoughts on what drew him to St. Paul’s and how he views the importance of the choir in the lives of students.
What inspired you to come to St. Paul’s and lead choir here?
“My inspiration for coming to St. Paul’s to lead the choirs came from my visit this past February. I realized right away that there is something special about this school and I observed a rich choral singing tradition that was a part of the fabric of St. Paul’s.
In a day and age where the arts are not always supported in schools, St. Paul’s clearly leads the way in highly valuing and supporting the choral program. Another reason I came to St. Paul’s was because of how impressed I was with the passion that the Concert Chorale sang with and the respect that they showed me during my visit. This is a sign of a choir that wants to be more than just an ordinary choir but instead a choir that is known for excellence.”
What do you most hope students learn from choir, musically or personally?
“My biggest hope for our choir students is that they are able to experience the power that choral music has to offer. I believe that music is a very special gift and that it speaks to us in ways we cannot fully understand. Music is about personal expression. It is medicine for the soul.
Music helps us notice, understand and respect the world around us. As a teacher, my job is to encourage expression and creativity, not to show ‘right’ and ‘wrong,’ but rather to help each student overcome their own personal challenges in order to sing as they truly were meant to sing. I encourage curiosity and a love of music in all its forms through the way I teach, promoting a healthy, lifelong love of singing.”
What makes a rehearsal feel successful when everything clicks?
“A successful rehearsal does not happen by accident. It is a joint effort from both the conductor and the singers as everyone needs to have buy-in and a determination to achieve the musical goals that have been set forth for that rehearsal.
When there is mutual respect for each other and the task at hand, when there is acceptance of the possibility of failure but the willingness to take a risk, and when there is active engagement by every choir member with a determination to strive for excellence, success is sure to follow.”
Final note
Mr. Ford’s philosophy focuses on the principles of passion and respect, and that music provides a way to bond with others and express feelings and emotions that cannot be expressed with mere words. His vision sets a great example for the direction of the program, and his presence has already connected with singers throughout the campus.
Interview conducted by The Voice student journalism team
Leave a Reply