Tommy Evans:
It’s 12 o’clock noon on 103.3 The Trail, KDTR in Florence–Missoula. I’m Tommy, and you know, it’s such a thrill to work at a radio station where interesting people occasionally stop by. Two amazing and interesting individuals are joining me in the studio now.

Before we get into the main event, we were just talking off-air with Jürgen about German radio. You were telling me about Radio 21. And then you said you saw Frank Zappa in Germany? What year was that?

Jürgen Knöller:
I think when I saw Frank Zappa, that was in Bremen, Northern Germany, in... I want to say 1979.

Tommy:
1979. Prime time for seeing Mr. Zappa.

Tommy (to Saxon):
Have you ever seen Zappa, Mr. Saxon Holbrook?

Saxon Holbrook:
No, I wish. I’ve listened to countless hours of Zappa though. Joe’s Garage is like the most incredible album set ever.

Tommy:
Yeah, yeah—Joe and his imaginary friends and voices.

Saxon:
Yep. Even “Shake Your Booty,” I remember that.

Tommy:
I don’t think we’d even be allowed to play all that stuff on the radio now.

So I’m visiting with Saxon Holbrook, Director and President of the International Choral Festival.

Saxon:
That’s correct.

Tommy:
And Jürgen—you’re the brewmaster. Is that the right way to put it?

Jürgen:
Well, yeah, that too. But I’m also very proud that I got pulled into the International Choral Festival pretty much since its inception. I think we’ve been involved since 1988, because Carson got me in there. I didn’t get here until August 1st of '87.

Tommy:
So it already existed?

Jürgen:
Yeah, it was in 1987. And definitely by 1990—the second festival—I was there. I remember flipping burgers for Carson down at Cassie Ogen’s place, a bit of a modest start.

Saxon:
Yep.

Tommy:
And look at us now! In our 13th International Choral Festival, coming up next week.

Saxon, as I understand, you were involved in that inaugural year—1987—and also studied abroad?

Saxon:
Yeah. I had just graduated from Hellgate High School in 1987, and that first year of the festival was founded by the Missoula Mendelssohn Club and local high school conductors—Dean Peterson and David Heidel, who, coincidentally, is now our artistic director.

They formed a Missoula Youth Choir that performed in the festival for several years. It’s a tradition that unfortunately no longer continues, but I’m hopeful we’ll resurrect the Missoula Youth Choir someday.

It was an incredible experience that really changed the direction of my life. I look back at those moments and think, “Wow, the international choir… that was pivotal.”

Don Carey, who was the conductor and artistic director at the time, and also led the Mendelssohn Club, came to me when I started at UM and said, “You need to be in Chamber Chorale. We’re going to Vienna in 1989.”

Tommy:
Whoa. Twist your arm, huh?

Saxon:
Exactly.

Tommy:
Alright, let’s talk about what we can expect this year. Multiple days—six?

Saxon:
We have four official days in Missoula starting Thursday at Downtown ToNight in Caras Park. All of the choirs will perform there.

But even before that, we’ve got a preview called the Choir Crawl. That’s where choirs will perform at the Missoula Public Library, the art museum, the Florence Hotel, and the ZACC.

Then they’ll work their way down to Caras Park to introduce themselves to Missoula.

Tommy:
Beautiful. And before Thursday?

Saxon:
Tuesday we have an outreach concert in Victor. Wednesday, one in Seeley Lake. Both are free and open to the public. It’s a way to get a taste of the festival and get excited before coming to Missoula for the rest.

Tommy:
Then starting Thursday, the concerts begin?

Saxon:
Yep. Concerts on Friday and Saturday, both afternoon and evening blocks. They’re held at the UM Music Recital Hall and the Dennison Theatre.

Sunday, we wrap it all up with a finale concert at the Adams Center where every choir performs. After individual performances, we take an intermission and reassemble into full choral sections—soprano, alto, tenor, bass—for the Mass Choir, conducted by Anton Armstrong from St. Olaf College.

Tommy:
That’s incredible. What’s the process of choosing the guest conductors and performers?

Saxon:
We’ve already started curating for 2027. Our Artistic Director, David Heidel, visits a number of choral festivals—some competitive, some open like ours. He finds the best choirs and invites them personally to come to Missoula.

We don’t have any formal commitments for 2027 yet, but David’s already reached out to several conductors.

Jürgen:
And we’ve got some fun ideas brewing for 2027—literally.

Saxon:
Yes. One idea came from Jürgen, actually. He has a connection through a choir that performed last year. They’re tied to a town in Southern Bavaria—Marktoberdorf—which does a similar international choir festival.

Jürgen:
Marktoberdorf is between Kaufbeuren and the Neuschwanstein castles in a beautiful part of Bavaria. That’s where I used to work. One of the bigger breweries there—Axenbräu in Kaufbeuren—I worked for them, knew everybody.

They sell quite a bit at the festival. So we thought, why not do a collaboration? I could go there with our brewmaster Torsten Geuer from Cologne. Brew a batch over there. They could do the same here for our festival. No shipping costs, and it’s a lot of fun.

Tommy:
A sort of cultural sister-program through beer?

Jürgen:
Exactly. It’s fun, cost-effective, and opens people up to something new. And it keeps things creative. I love how international this festival is—people from all over the world coming to Missoula to sing.

When I first moved here, I felt welcomed. Being part of this made Missoula feel like home. There’s no other place in Montana—maybe even surrounding states—doing something like this.

Tommy:
It’s truly something special.

Saxon:
Yeah, and being even a small part of it makes me proud.

Tommy:
So this isn’t your first year involved.

Jürgen:
We’re going back to at least 1990. Over 30 years now.

Tommy:
And the two of you have worked together that whole time?

Saxon:
Pretty much. I mean, back then I was just out of high school—I wasn’t supposed to be drinking Jürgen’s beer yet! But after I studied in Europe and got used to really great lagers, I gained a deep appreciation for what Jürgen does.

There’s really no one around here doing German-style beer like Bayern does.

Tommy:
You’ve got the title locked in.

Saxon:
Absolutely. And now we’ve rebranded the festival Pilsner as the Montana International Choral Festival Pilsner. It’s in stores all over town right now—limited edition cans. Also available on tap at several watering holes.

Tommy:
Love it. So as a former choir kid, I’ve got to ask—favorite composers? Saxon?

Saxon:
Eric Whitacre, of course. Who isn’t a Whitacre fan?

But the real beauty is in the variety. We’ll have traditional classical music, African choral works, Estonian and Georgian folk music—it’s incredibly unique. You’ll hear some Whitacre, some Jacob Collier… it’s all in there. Beautiful, contemporary, and culturally diverse.

Tommy:
It’s the 13th festival?

Saxon:
Yes, our 13th. It used to be every three years, but we’re now on a two-year cycle. The next one is in 2027.

Tommy:
So where can people go to learn more, donate, or buy buttons?

Saxon:
Visit choralfestival.org. The full schedule is there. Outreach concerts are free.

For Friday, Saturday, and Sunday concerts, you’ll need a button. They’re $40—and anyone under 18 gets in free. Bring your grandkids. Bring your whole family.

Tommy:
It’s really an amazing combination of culture and community. The energy is electric.

Jürgen—do we need to spill the secret? Are you doing a solo this year?

Jürgen:
No, no. I leave that to the professionals!

Tommy:
Maybe if we start a petition, we’ll get you up there…

Jürgen:
Haha, well…

Tommy:
Saxon Holbrook and Jürgen Knöller in the studio. Am I saying that right—Knöller?

Jürgen:
Pretty close.

Tommy:
Why don’t you correct me on air?

Jürgen:
“Knöller.” Closer.

Tommy:
Got it. Thanks again, both of you, for coming by The Trail. Is there anything else the community should know?

Jürgen:
Just one last thought. When you experience a live choir—no amplifiers, no instruments—it hits you deep. Doesn’t matter where you’re from or how old you are. It touches something ancient. It’s in our DNA. People have been singing around fires since the Stone Age.

That’s what this is. And once you feel it, you’ll want to come back again and again. You really can’t describe it. You just have to experience it.

Tommy:
You couldn’t have said it better.

Saxon:
It’s powerful. And we’d love people to share that with us.

Tommy:
Get involved at choralfestival.org. Some events are free, others are ticketed—but everyone is welcome.

Saxon & Jürgen:
Thank you so much.

Tommy:
Born on this day in 1939, turning 86—Mavis Staples. You’re listening to The Trail.