Amando Ohland
Amado Ohland
Amado Ohland transforms voices into living instruments of spontaneous harmony. The Maryland-based vocal artist and circlesinging facilitator creates music that exists only in the moment—intimate, unrehearsed, and powerfully human.
Amado's artistic transformation began in 2011 when he encountered Bobby McFerrin's Circlesongs workshops. After attending four consecutive years, he emerged with a radically different approach to music-making. "These retreats reinvigorated my music-making and transformed me both musically and personally," he reflects. The impact was immediate and profound: returning from the 2014 workshop, Amado launched his ambitious Daily Song Project—improvising and recording nearly 400 songs over two years, each completed in under an hour.
This commitment to spontaneous creation defines Amado's artistry. His 2024 releases showcase two dimensions of his vocal mastery: "Full Circle," recorded with his improvisational ensemble VoiceExchange, captures the electric energy of group vocal improvisation, while his solo album "Circular Reasoning" presents unaccompanied vocal compositions that blur the line between structured composition and free improvisation.
Amado's journey from progressive rock enthusiast to vocal innovator spans decades. His early musical foundation combined classical training—trombone lessons and church choir in central New York—with teenage fascination for Queen, Rush, and Prince. After earning degrees from Binghamton University (Philosophy/Psychology) and University of Maryland (Music Theory/Composition), he spent years fronting blues and jazz bands across Florida and Virginia, including the regionally successful Syndicators, who were hand-selected by Bose Corporation in 2003 to showcase new live sound technology.
But it's Amado's dedication to community music-making that sets him apart. Since 2012, he has led circlesinging events—gatherings where participants create spontaneous vocal harmonies together, no musical experience required. These monthly events in Rockville and Savage, Maryland, foster spaces where individual voices unite in improvised harmony, embodying his belief that everyone has music within them waiting to emerge.
Amado's academic credentials include a Master's degree in Music from Radford University, where he later returned to teach as adjunct professor of Music Theory. He also completed advanced doctoral coursework in Music Composition at West Virginia University, participating in their Jazz department and Choral program while teaching freshman Ear Training and Music Theory. This scholarly foundation supports his mission to make vocal improvisation accessible to all.
Amado's artistic vision extends beyond performance to community building. His circlesinging events create inclusive spaces where seasoned musicians and complete beginners contribute equally to spontaneous musical moments that can never be repeated or replicated—only experienced.
With new music on the horizon and expanding circlesinging communities, Amado continues exploring the infinite possibilities that emerge when voices come together in trust, spontaneity, and shared musical discovery.
Amado Ohland transforms voices into living instruments of spontaneous harmony. The Maryland-based vocal artist and circlesinging facilitator creates music that exists only in the moment—intimate, unrehearsed, and powerfully human.
Amado's artistic transformation began in 2011 when he encountered Bobby McFerrin's Circlesongs workshops. After attending four consecutive years, he emerged with a radically different approach to music-making. "These retreats reinvigorated my music-making and transformed me both musically and personally," he reflects. The impact was immediate and profound: returning from the 2014 workshop, Amado launched his ambitious Daily Song Project—improvising and recording nearly 400 songs over two years, each completed in under an hour.
This commitment to spontaneous creation defines Amado's artistry. His 2024 releases showcase two dimensions of his vocal mastery: "Full Circle," recorded with his improvisational ensemble VoiceExchange, captures the electric energy of group vocal improvisation, while his solo album "Circular Reasoning" presents unaccompanied vocal compositions that blur the line between structured composition and free improvisation.
Amado's journey from progressive rock enthusiast to vocal innovator spans decades. His early musical foundation combined classical training—trombone lessons and church choir in central New York—with teenage fascination for Queen, Rush, and Prince. After earning degrees from Binghamton University (Philosophy/Psychology) and University of Maryland (Music Theory/Composition), he spent years fronting blues and jazz bands across Florida and Virginia, including the regionally successful Syndicators, who were hand-selected by Bose Corporation in 2003 to showcase new live sound technology.
But it's Amado's dedication to community music-making that sets him apart. Since 2012, he has led circlesinging events—gatherings where participants create spontaneous vocal harmonies together, no musical experience required. These monthly events in Rockville and Savage, Maryland, foster spaces where individual voices unite in improvised harmony, embodying his belief that everyone has music within them waiting to emerge.
Amado's academic credentials include a Master's degree in Music from Radford University, where he later returned to teach as adjunct professor of Music Theory. He also completed advanced doctoral coursework in Music Composition at West Virginia University, participating in their Jazz department and Choral program while teaching freshman Ear Training and Music Theory. This scholarly foundation supports his mission to make vocal improvisation accessible to all.
Amado's artistic vision extends beyond performance to community building. His circlesinging events create inclusive spaces where seasoned musicians and complete beginners contribute equally to spontaneous musical moments that can never be repeated or replicated—only experienced.
With new music on the horizon and expanding circlesinging communities, Amado continues exploring the infinite possibilities that emerge when voices come together in trust, spontaneity, and shared musical discovery.