When Portage High School choir teacher Jordan Dollins first arranged the Irish folk song “I’ll Tell Me Ma,” he never imagined it would one day be performed by one of the top youth choirs in the country. But more than ten years after he first created it, he got the amazing chance to hear the Indianapolis Children’s Choir Master Chorale—an advanced choir of high school students—sing his arrangement at their March concert.
“I couldn’t stop smiling while they were singing,” Dollins said. “I had worked with the ICC Master Chorale in January, but their performance in March was something I’ll never forget.”
“I’ll Tell Me Ma” is a traditional Irish song about boys playfully trying to decide who the prettiest girl in town is. Dollins, who loves folk music, first arranged it in 2014 for his husband’s middle school choir. Later, Portage High School’s Concert Choir also sang it during the difficult early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the summer of 2022, after going to a conference about composing music for children’s choirs, Dollins decided to submit his arrangement to the ICC Publishing House.
“I’ve always loved traditional folk music, so I jumped at the chance to arrange it,” Dollins said.
The ICC accepted his song, made a few changes, and published it in 2023. Then, last fall, Dollins got the exciting news that the ICC Master Chorale would perform his work.
“I was so happy,” he said. “The ICC is one of the biggest names in children’s choirs. It has been around for almost 40 years and was started by an expert on young voices. It was a huge honor not only to have my work published but also to have it performed by them.”
For Dollins, this is the result of a lifelong passion for writing and arranging music. He hopes his story will inspire his students.
“I want them to know that no matter how long your dreams take, if you work hard and put yourself out there, amazing things can happen,” he said.
As Dollins continues to inspire students at Portage High School, he is thankful for the music teachers who helped him along the way.
“I’m where I am today because music teachers in high school believed in me and encouraged my curiosity,” he said. “Music education is so important—it touches everything from concerts to the music we hear on the radio or in movies. I’m proud that at PHS, we’ve created a place where students can explore and grow their musical talents.”
Dollins teaches four choirs: Chorale, Bella Voce, Concert Choir, and Cantabile. He also directs the PHS Choraliers and helps with the PHS Thespians’ annual spring musical. His students have won many awards, including several Solo & Ensemble gold awards this season