For a full CV in English:
| cvenglishfull2024.pdf |
Bio:
Thomas Caplin (1960) Professor Emeritus choral leadership.
Thomas Caplin is a composer, arranger and Professor Emeritus at the Inland University Norway. Caplin came to Norway in 1989, having been offered a position as a choral pedagogue at Toneheim Folk High School and the Teacher Training College in Hamar. He has remained there ever since, developing the subject of choral conducting into something more than conducting alone.
Caplin has specialized in holistic aspects of choral leadership, including the psychological and pedagogical paired with more traditional perspectives and a strong focus on broad competence development within choral conducting.
As a composer and arranger, he has made a name for himself both nationally and internationally, and he masters both classical and rhythmic genres in his compositional work. Through his research project, the vocal group Nordic Blue, he has immersed himself in the intersection between classical and rhythmic traditions. It is especially within the rhythmic field that he has developed methods for the ordinary choir, while still keeping one foot firmly in the classical tradition.
His e-book on choral conducting, A holistic approach to choral leadership, is used worldwide today within modern choral leadership, and he is frequently engaged as an adjudicator at choral competitions and as a guest conductor, particularly abroad.
Caplin’s most recent choir, Defrost Youth Choir, has distinguished itself both in Norway and internationally as a youth ensemble of exceptionally high standard, which has been recognized by the Norwegian Arts Council through many years of support for the ensemble.
THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO CHORAL LEADERSHIP
This book offers a powerful vision of choral leadership - where music-making, learning, and human connection meet. Rather than seeing conducting only as directing, Caplin presents the conductor as a facilitator of musical growth, reflection, and collaboration within the choir. Insightful and inspiring, the book offers valuable perspectives for everyone involved in choral singing - both leaders and singers who want to better understand how choirs learn, communicate, and create music together. A meaningful read for anyone passionate about choral music.
The holistic approach to choral leadership, reflects my own journey from becoming a conductor, a maestro, the director and lastly - but most importantly! - the teacher.
"What you've written is truly remarkable—probably the most comprehensive book on conducting ever written. But it's so much more than that: a philosophical exploration of the subject of conducting in all its facets. And always, the human being is at the center."
(Franz Herzog, educator/composer/conductor)
In 2004 he was awarded the recognition “Choral Director of the Year” by the Norwegian Choral Directors’ Association. He has received international recognitions for his leadership of the following choirs :
The Lund University Male Choir (prominent male choir from University of Lund, Sweden, World Choir champions in Shaoxing in 2010), Chamber Choir Collegium Vocale (Norway), Oslo University Male Choir (World Choir Champion in Xiamen, China 2006) and Defrost Youth Choir. Internationally he was in the steering committee for the IFCM mentor program "Conductors Without Borders", and is the Norwegian representative in the Interkultur World Choir Council. Hie is currently serving as Professor emeritus at the Inland University, Hamar (Norway.
Thomas Caplin is a composer, arranger and Professor Emeritus at the Inland University Norway. Caplin came to Norway in 1989, having been offered a position as a choral pedagogue at Toneheim Folk High School and the Teacher Training College in Hamar. He has remained there ever since, developing the subject of choral conducting into something more than conducting alone.
Caplin has specialized in holistic aspects of choral leadership, including the psychological and pedagogical paired with more traditional perspectives and a strong focus on broad competence development within choral conducting.
As a composer and arranger, he has made a name for himself both nationally and internationally, and he masters both classical and rhythmic genres in his compositional work. Through his research project, the vocal group Nordic Blue, he has immersed himself in the intersection between classical and rhythmic traditions. It is especially within the rhythmic field that he has developed methods for the ordinary choir, while still keeping one foot firmly in the classical tradition.
His e-book on choral conducting, A holistic approach to choral leadership, is used worldwide today within modern choral leadership, and he is frequently engaged as an adjudicator at choral competitions and as a guest conductor, particularly abroad.
Caplin’s most recent choir, Defrost Youth Choir, has distinguished itself both in Norway and internationally as a youth ensemble of exceptionally high standard, which has been recognized by the Norwegian Arts Council through many years of support for the ensemble.
THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO CHORAL LEADERSHIP
This book offers a powerful vision of choral leadership - where music-making, learning, and human connection meet. Rather than seeing conducting only as directing, Caplin presents the conductor as a facilitator of musical growth, reflection, and collaboration within the choir. Insightful and inspiring, the book offers valuable perspectives for everyone involved in choral singing - both leaders and singers who want to better understand how choirs learn, communicate, and create music together. A meaningful read for anyone passionate about choral music.
The holistic approach to choral leadership, reflects my own journey from becoming a conductor, a maestro, the director and lastly - but most importantly! - the teacher.
"What you've written is truly remarkable—probably the most comprehensive book on conducting ever written. But it's so much more than that: a philosophical exploration of the subject of conducting in all its facets. And always, the human being is at the center."
(Franz Herzog, educator/composer/conductor)
In 2004 he was awarded the recognition “Choral Director of the Year” by the Norwegian Choral Directors’ Association. He has received international recognitions for his leadership of the following choirs :
The Lund University Male Choir (prominent male choir from University of Lund, Sweden, World Choir champions in Shaoxing in 2010), Chamber Choir Collegium Vocale (Norway), Oslo University Male Choir (World Choir Champion in Xiamen, China 2006) and Defrost Youth Choir. Internationally he was in the steering committee for the IFCM mentor program "Conductors Without Borders", and is the Norwegian representative in the Interkultur World Choir Council. Hie is currently serving as Professor emeritus at the Inland University, Hamar (Norway.