We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Justin Langham. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Justin, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
Thanks for the opportunity! I think people outside of the music business, and many inside for that matter, assume that since we “love what we do” that we are expected to sacrifice more than those in other fields in favor of a secure and balanced life. In my experience, musicians often don’t choose to go into a career in the arts, rather it’s more of a calling that last a lifetime. Similar to passionate educators, many musicians cannot imagine doing anything else. Also like teachers, their natural dedication to their field can often be taken advantage of, and I hope that more acknowledgment and broader understanding may help change that.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure! Simply put, I am a conductor, composer, performer, and educator based in Houston, Texas. One unique aspect of my career is the diversity of my training and experience in multiple areas of music. Most of my time is spent directing choirs, but I also have a background as an instrumentalist and composer.
I knew from an early age that music was only thing I wanted to do with my life, but over the years I also felt pulled towards different aspects of that field. After battling a lot of insecurity in my educational years, where the musical field pushes towards hyper-specificity, I felt somehow that pursuing knowledge in other musical fields wouldn’t distract from what I was doing, but enhance it. When the opportunity came to direct a choir, something I had never considered to that point, I jumped at the chance and quickly became hooked. When a catastrophic facial injury in 2021 threw my future as an instrumentalist into doubt, I dove headfirst into a new focus in the choral field and I’m so glad that I did. Today, I’m proud to hold two established positions in Houston, Director of Music at St. Philip Presbyterian and Artistic Director and Conductor for the Houston Masterworks Chorus, as well as rewarding pursuits as a composer, performer, and teacher.
My hope is that others with similar stories can take confidence that a broader, more diverse skillset is not a weakness, but an incredible strength.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Easy! My relationship with my twin brother. We’re technically fraternal twins, but there have been countless times over the years where are copies of one another. How we dress, our facial hair, our speaking voices, and even acting as a mirror image of each other. As adults, I’ve been most interested in how we process and react to the same experiences in similar, but often very different ways. I feel as though as I understand him more, I understand myself better too.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of making a mistake, or more broadly the fear of failure. I was/am a pretty big rule-follower. I’ve always tried to do the right thing, or what I was supposed to do, no matter what, but I’ve also struggled with a strong hesitation or uncertainty that comes with fear of doing something “wrong.” A public-facing career as a performing musician may not seem like the ideal field for someone with this particular fear, but I’ve found it to be a wonderful therapy. Yes, there have been moments where fear of making a mistake has been self-defeating in my musical career, but the practice of overcoming or managing that fear has had the opposite effect, giving me more confidence in music and other parts of my life.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I hope they would say kindness and authenticity. In a world that incentivizes manicured versions of yourself in different situations for some sort of gain (personal, financial, or otherwise) and increasingly sees kindness as a weakness to exploit rather than an admirable trait, I feel strongly that being authentic to who you are and treating everyone with kindness is the most important thing to me.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Honestly, I feel like I’ve experienced and can empathize with both sides of this. As I mentioned, I’m absolutely sure that the musical field is where I am meant to be, but the way in which that manifests has shifted over the years. I can definitely remember feeling pushed early in my education towards what I was “told” to do, which made diverting from that path feel like failure, but I definitely feel more affirmed where I am now!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.justinlangham.com
- Instagram: @justin_langham
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.langham.1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@justinlanghammusic
Image Credits
Jeff Grass Photography
Natalie Gaynor Photography
