Board of Directors Appoints Dr. Jake Taylor Artistic Director

The Board of Directors of International Voices Houston is pleased to announce that Dr. Jake Taylor has accepted the position of Artistic Director for 2025 – 2026, the choir’s 27th season. He is the fifth to hold the position after founding director Michèle Lhopiteau-Dorfeuille, Dr. Phillip Kloeckner, Dr. Eric Esparza, and Mark Vogel.
About Dr. Jake Taylor
Dr. Jake Taylor’s work as a choral conductor and music educator spans a wide variety of settings, including positions with academic, community, and professional choirs. Alongside his new appointment as the Artistic Director of International Voices Houston, Dr. Taylor serves as a choral music educator in Katy ISD. Previous positions have included Director of Choral Activities at Appalachian State University, Director of Choral Studies at New Mexico State University, and conductor of The Matador Singers at Texas Tech University. In addition to his work in education, he has served in numerous sacred music settings, including Director of Worship at Perritte Memorial Methodist in Nacogdoches, Texas, Peace Lutheran in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and First Baptist Church in Marion, North Carolina.
In 2014, he co-founded The Houston Men’s Choir, a collaborative ensemble of tenor-bass singers that rehearses and performs without a traditional conductor and is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to the art of singing and its positive impact through performance and education. While no longer directly affiliated with the ensemble, he is immensely proud of its continued impact on the choral arts in Houston since its inception.
Dr. Taylor earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts in choral conducting from Texas Tech University, a master’s degree in choral conducting, and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Stephen F. Austin State University. He maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician and has given numerous presentations on score study, conducting gesture, rehearsal techniques, and music literacy in the secondary choral classroom.
Search Background
The Board of Directors began preparations for the search for a new Artistic Director in the fall, and the job posting was finalized and made public in January. Five applicants were interviewed by Zoom interview, and two excellent finalists were selected. Both were interviewed face-to-face and then worked with the choir in a rehearsal setting. The Board sought and received feedback from choir members and staff. There was broad support for both candidates. After extensive discussion throughout the interview process, the Board voted to hire Dr. Jake Taylor as Artistic Director at its regular meeting Wednesday, April 16.
Transition Schedule
Dr. Taylor will begin work on the 2025 – 2026 season June 1, 2025. Paul Butt will continue as accompanist.