EPISODE · May 14, 2026 · 34 MIN
She Was Supposed to Be a Doctor. Now She Conducts at Carnegie Hall
from The People You Meet in Old Town · host Jane Khodos Beyer
Marie Bucoy-Calavan, the Artistic Director of the Choral Arts Society of Washington, joins The People You Meet in Old Town podcast to share her remarkable journey from a Filipino immigrant household to the conductor's podium at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. Marie recounts how parental pressure to pursue medicine or law gave way to a deep love of music, and how a mentor's belief in her at age 21 set her on the path to earning a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Marie explains why Washington, D.C. is a "choral mecca" — home to a thriving ecosystem of choral ensembles — and highlights the incredible venues across the region where live choral performances come to life. She also speaks passionately about musical education for young children, the Mozart effect, the Suzuki method, and hidden classical music gems in beloved children's shows like Bluey and Danny Go. And she shares what it means to lead the Choral Arts Society to Carnegie Hall for the concert, From Darkness to Light. Timing:00:00 A Baton and Harmony00:59 Meet Marie Bucoy-Calavan01:03 How We Met in Old Town01:32 Finding the Conductor Path04:11 Arts Career Doubts05:37 From Piano to Many Instruments08:53 Empathy for the Orchestra09:57 Doctorate and Training11:10 DC as Choral Mecca12:33 Best Venues and Joining Choirs14:45 Carnegie Hall and New Programs15:59 Kids and Early Music Exposure19:39 Singing Toys to Choirs20:05 Kids Chorus Options21:42 Danny Go Movement Songs23:24 Bluey Classical Easter Eggs27:07 Taylor Swift Parallels29:11 Live Performance Stamina30:33 Handling Mistakes Onstage32:00 Old Town Lightning Round33:27 Closing Thanks and Culture Around Old Town and beyond:• Maman: 500 King St | mamannyc.com | IG: @mamancafe• Café du Soleil: 1723 Connecticut Ave NW | IG: @cafedusoleildc• Le Refuge: 127 N Washington St, Alexandria | IG: @lerefugealexandria• Orangetheory Fitness Alexandria: 1101 King St | orangetheory.com | IG: @orangetheoryfitness• Choral Arts Society of Washington: choralarts.org | IG: @choralarts• Levine Music: levinemusic.org | IG: @levinemusic• Children's Chorus of Washington: childrenschorusofwashington.org | IG: @childrenschorusdc• The Strathmore: 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda | strathmore.org | IG: @strathmore• The Kennedy Center: 2700 F St NW, Washington DC | kennedy-center.org | IG: @kennedycenter
What this episode covers
Marie Bucoy-Calavan, the Artistic Director of the Choral Arts Society of Washington, joins The People You Meet in Old Town podcast to share her remarkable journey from a Filipino immigrant household to the conductor's podium at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. Marie recounts how parental pressure to pursue medicine or law gave way to a deep love of music, and how a mentor's belief in her at age 21 set her on the path to earning a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Marie explains why Washington, D.C. is a "choral mecca" — home to a thriving ecosystem of choral ensembles — and highlights the incredible venues across the region where live choral performances come to life. She also speaks passionately about musical education for young children, the Mozart effect, the Suzuki method, and hidden classical music gems in beloved children's shows like Bluey and Danny Go. And she shares what it means to lead the Choral Arts Society to Carnegie Hall for the concert, From Darkness to Light. Timing:00:00 A Baton and Harmony00:59 Meet Marie Bucoy-Calavan01:03 How We Met in Old Town01:32 Finding the Conductor Path04:11 Arts Career Doubts05:37 From Piano to Many Instruments08:53 Empathy for the Orchestra09:57 Doctorate and Training11:10 DC as Choral Mecca12:33 Best Venues and Joining Choirs14:45 Carnegie Hall and New Programs15:59 Kids and Early Music Exposure19:39 Singing Toys to Choirs20:05 Kids Chorus Options21:42 Danny Go Movement Songs23:24 Bluey Classical Easter Eggs27:07 Taylor Swift Parallels29:11 Live Performance Stamina30:33 Handling Mistakes Onstage32:00 Old Town Lightning Round33:27 Closing Thanks and Culture Around Old Town and beyond:• Maman: 500 King St | mamannyc.com | IG: @mamancafe• Café du Soleil: 1723 Connecticut Ave NW | IG: @cafedusoleildc• Le Refuge: 127 N Washington St, Alexandria | IG: @lerefugealexandria• Orangetheory Fitness Alexandria: 1101 King St | orangetheory.com | IG: @orangetheoryfitness• Choral Arts Society of Washington: choralarts.org | IG: @choralarts• Levine Music: levinemusic.org | IG: @levinemusic• Children's Chorus of Washington: childrenschorusofwashington.org | IG: @childrenschorusdc• The Strathmore: 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda | strathmore.org | IG: @strathmore• The Kennedy Center: 2700 F St NW, Washington DC | kennedy-center.org | IG: @kennedycenter
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She Was Supposed to Be a Doctor. Now She Conducts at Carnegie Hall
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