Uploaded September 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Jamey Ray and Derric Johnson are the founders of acclaimed a cappella groups Voctave and The Voices of Liberty. In this interview, they share stories from their careers, including what inspired them to start their own groups at a time before a cappella became popular. Plus, you’ll hear about a few of their favorite arrangements—available from J.W. Pepper in the links below—their writing techniques, advice for choirs performing their music, and more!

Hosted by Jennifer Moorhatch, choral editor, J.W. Pepper

Intro – 0:00
What does Jamey Ray do? – 1:11
How did The Voices of Liberty begin? – 3:29
Having lunch with Don Pippin... then Disney calls – 6:01
What made the sound significant? – 9:02
How Jamey discovered VOL: Tiffany Coburn and It Is Well With My Soul – 11:20
jwpepper.com/It-is-Well-With-My-Soul/10947265.item?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=inside-voice-voices-of-liberty-voctave
Candlelight Concerts and Christmas arrangements – 14:25
Joy to the World – 19:16
jwpepper.com/Joy-to-the-World/11393065.item?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=inside-voice-voices-of-liberty-voctave
Jamey Ray's favorites of Derric's Christmas arrangements: Away in a Manger – 21:13
jwpepper.com/Away-in-a-Manger/11393062.item?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=inside-voice-voices-of-liberty-voctave
French Chorale of Praise – 21:54
jwpepper.com/French-Chorale-of-Praise/11393063.item?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=inside-voice-voices-of-liberty-voctave
The Hanukkah medley – 23:21
jwpepper.com/Hanukkah%21/11393064.item?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=inside-voice-voices-of-liberty-voctave
More details on Away in a Manger and Still, Still, Still – 25:16
jwpepper.com/Still%2C-Still%2C-Still/11393066.item?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=inside-voice-voices-of-liberty-voctave
How many singers have been part of The Voices of Liberty? – 28:25
Notable names who sang with The Voices of Liberty – 32:17
What groups should consider these arrangements? – 34:10
Voice-leading in Derric's writing makes it very accessible – 36:14
What is the style for people who have never heard it before? – 39:38
How would Derric like his music remembered? – 45:16
Derric's 90th birthday party and his Happy Birthday arrangement – 48:17
jwpepper.com/Happy-Birthday/11393059.item?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=inside-voice-voices-of-liberty-voctave
We're so thankful to Derric for sharing his music with us – 50:06
Voctave: How did the name come about? – 51:42
Guest artists – 54:54
Re'Generation – 56:42
Seeing Voctave live – 58:39
Voctave Christmas arrangements: Mary, Did You Know? – 1:00:28
jwpepper.com/Mary%2C-Did-You-Know%3F/11001278.item?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=inside-voice-voices-of-liberty-voctave
All Is Well – 1:01:54
jwpepper.com/All-Is-Well/11198935.item?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=inside-voice-voices-of-liberty-voctave
Joy to the World (Voctave arrangement) – 1:04:20
jwpepper.com/Joy-to-the-World/11001344.item?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=inside-voice-voices-of-liberty-voctave
O Come, All Ye Faithful – 1:05:37
jwpepper.com/O-Come%2C-All-Ye-Faithful/11198938.item?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=inside-voice-voices-of-liberty-voctave
Jamey's personal favorite: All Is Well – 1:07:05
Programming options – 1:07:45
Thank you to Jamey and Derric for joining us! – 1:09:07
Wrap-up... and subscribe – 1:10:08