This week on Moveable Do, Steve wraps up Season 9 with acclaimed composer, arranger, and performer Shawn Kirchner. Known for his soaring melodies and genre-blending choral writing, Shawn’s music has become a favorite of ensembles worldwide. From setting Plath and Neruda to singing on soundtracks like La-La Land and Avatar, Shawn’s creative life bridges the sacred, poetic, and cinematic.
In this episode, Shawn shares stories from his Iowa upbringing as a triplet, the journey that brought him to Los Angeles, and his rich musical life as a session singer, church musician, and composer. We dive into his creative process, his love for poetry and folk traditions, and large-scale works like The Light of Hope Returning. Plus—hear what vegetable might inspire his next choral piece!
Pieces featured on this episode:
The Light of Hope Returning (excerpts: Joyous Welcome, Coventry Carol, Little Rose)
Bright Angels Bless Thy Name (from his Bluegrass Mass)
For more about Shawn Kirchner and his music, visit shawnkirchner.com. For the full archive of Moveable Do episodes, head to MoveableDo.com.
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