Eamonn Dougan: Adventures of a choral chihuahua

Associate Conductor of The Sixteen, Eamonn Dougan has built a reputation as an inspirational communicator with a wide-ranging and adventurous repertoire. In addition to his work with The Sixteen, he is the founding director of Britten Sinfonia Voices and Music Director of the Thomas Tallis Society. The website Bachtrack perhaps sums him up best, praising his “remarkable knack for finding the perfect balance between allowing the emotion time to speak, while keeping everything moving.”In this conversation, Eamonn shares his passion for unearthing overlooked musical treasures, including the rich and rarely heard repertoire of the Polish Baroque. He speaks warmly about his educational work with emerging artists, advocating for ensemble singing as a distinct discipline deserving serious attention. We also discuss the origins and impact of his podcast Choral Chihuahua, created during the pandemic and now in its eighth season, as well as his approach to recording, and the lasting emotional power that music holds in his life.Eamonn Dougan is currently in Australia guest directing The Song Company for Love’s Four Seasons, a compelling program exploring the cycle of human relationships through madrigals by Monteverdi, Gesualdo, and Barbara Strozzi, alongside modern works. At the time of publication, performances have already taken place in Newcastle, Wollongong and Canberra, with further concerts at the Utzon Room of the Sydney Opera House on Saturday 14 June and at the Blackheath Uniting Church on Sunday 15 June.