Nation is a collaborative vocal band from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, pioneered by composer/performers Jocelyn Hagen and Timothy C.  Takach. Blurring the lines of pop, classical, a cappella, singer/songwriter, folk and many other genres, Nation’s sound defies definition, and commands attention from the stage. 

Expanding on their composing successes, Hagen and Takach are quickly becoming known for reshaping the choral experience with singers around the globe. Pioneers in their field of composing, entrepreneurship, coaching youth and adults, and leading ensembles in the spirit of collaboration, Takach and Hagen bring to the table a uniquely special partnership of lifelong learning. They guide singers through a collective and creative journey, modeling healthy, accessible and honest pedagogy for developing singers. They inspire choral educators to stretch outside the box with rehearsal strategies, programming ideas, improvisation, co-teaching, and crafted experiences to honor and balance tradition and innovation in these fast-paced times.

In addition to bringing Nation to stage, Takach and Hagen were co-clinicians at the University of Memphis Honor Choir and the American International School of Muscat Choral Festival in Oman. In 2018 they presented a program of original music with Minnesota’s VocalEssence, and they traveled to Seattle, Washington to facilitate a workshop of the a cappella choral oratorio that they co-composed, This is How You Love. Takach and Hagen have served in residence at the CORO Composer’s Institute and have been performers and presenters at the Western, Southern and Midwestern ACDA Conferences, Iowa Choral Directors Association Annual Symposium, the Music Celebrations International Dublin Choral Festival, the Choral Colloquium at Montana State, and the International Championship of High School A Cappella.