Dr. Joshua Palkki is Associate Professor of Music at Georgia Tech, where he leads the Chamber Choir and Glee Club. He co‑authored Honoring Trans and Gender‑Expansive Students in Music Education (Oxford University Press, 2021) and is internationally recognized for his scholarship on inclusive practices in choral music education.
After launching our lineup of 2027 choral festivals, Dr. Palkki sat down with us to share his vision for the Ireland Choral Festival, exploring how the theme of Uplifting Voices Through Inclusivity will come alive, and how choirs benefit from participating in festivals.
Tell us about your theme for this festival? How will “Uplifting Voices Through Inclusivity” present itself?
Inclusivity, equity, and justice have long been at the heart of my teaching philosophy and pedagogy. In this festival, we will center music by composers and arrangers from historically marginalized communities, honoring a wide range of lived experiences and cultural perspectives. Our approach to choral music-making will be intentionally flexible and inclusive—rethinking traditional norms around voicing, concert attire, and ensemble structure to create space for all singers to show up authentically. Together, we’ll demonstrate through music that diversity is not just something to be included—it is a source of strength, beauty, and resilience. Uplifting Voices Through Inclusivity will be a celebration of the powerful truth that we are, indeed, stronger together.
Why are you drawn to Galway for the festival’s setting?
Galway feels like the perfect home for Uplifting Voices Through Inclusivity. It’s a place where music, history, and community intersect in powerful ways. As Ireland’s cultural heart, Galway is known for its artistic spirit, warm hospitality, and vibrant choral traditions. It offers a setting that’s both intimate and internationally respected—small enough to foster meaningful connection, yet dynamic enough to celebrate diverse voices from around the world.
What draws me most, though, is Galway’s openness: its embrace of creativity, its celebration of difference, and its deep respect for heritage. It’s a city that invites reflection and rejoicing in equal measure—an ideal canvas for a festival that aims to uplift, empower, and bring people together through the shared joy of singing.
What do you envision your festival providing to a choir and its director that will benefit their goals or group development?
An international festival choir experience leaves a lasting impression on everyone involved. To be immersed in the vibrant culture of western Ireland—while studying, rehearsing, and performing meaningful repertoire—is the kind of transformative, “mountaintop” moment that singers carry with them for a lifetime. My hope is that both choristers and educators alike will encounter a gender-inclusive choral environment and gain new insights they can bring back to their own communities. Above all, I hope this festival affirms that musical excellence and inclusivity are not only compatible—they elevate each other.
What is your conducting style, and what do you anticipate your festival feeling like musically?
I am a high energy teacher-conductor! My teaching style is deeply collaborative, heart-centered, and rooted in joy. I strive to create rehearsal spaces that are welcoming, empowering, and musically rigorous—but never at the expense of laughter, connection, or care. I believe that when singers feel safe and seen, they sing more freely, more honestly, and more beautifully.
What kind of takeaway would you be grateful for your attendees to have?
Musically, I envision the festival feeling expansive, vibrant, and emotionally rich. We’ll explore a wide range of repertoire—uplifting works from diverse cultures and traditions, pieces that honor marginalized voices, and music that invites reflection, celebration, and unity. Above all, I want participants to leave feeling not just artistically fulfilled, but transformed by the power of community and the magic of choral music in a place as inspiring as Galway.
The KI Concerts 2027 Ireland Choral Festival with Dr. Joshua Palkki will take place from June 16th – 21st, 2027.
