Not Just Publishing Music: Composing What Comes Next

Some businesses follow a map. Others learn the shortcuts. A rare few look at the terrain itself and decide: we can make this better.

Graphite Publishing belongs firmly in that last category.

For years they’ve been doing the unflashy, often invisible work of building trust, championing artists, and reshaping an industry from the inside out. No torch-throwing. No manifesto. Just thoughtful choices, repeated consistently until something meaningful takes root.

That kind of work has a look to it. Or at least, it should.

Graphite is run by Tim Takach and Jocelyn Hagen, partners in life and music, whose collaboration feels less like a corporate org chart and more like a conversation that never really ended. Someone once described them as the Chip and Joanna Gaines of choral music. Not because of branding or trend, but because authenticity and leadership sit so comfortably with them.

Nothing feels forced. Nothing is performative. They simply show up as themselves, and somehow that’s enough.

What they’ve built reflects that same sensibility. Graphite Publishing occupies a distinct place in the choral world: boutique, curated, and deeply human. Thoughtful without excess. Ambitious without losing its warmth.

Their mission is simple: bridge composers and performers in ways that are fair, sustainable, and respectful. They want to be the first place conductors turn when searching for new music. Not because it’s easier, but because discovery there feels exciting rather than exhausting.

Graphite was built with a composer-first mindset. The company pays one of the highest royalty rates in the industry, giving composers greater freedom and ownership over their work. Their catalog is carefully curated, showcasing artists who are not only in demand but pushing the boundaries of what vocal and choral music can be.

Composers aren’t an afterthought in this model.

They are the heartbeat.

That philosophy has drawn a particular community: conductors willing to take creative risks, educators working everywhere from middle school choirs to universities to community ensembles, and artists who care deeply about the work itself—not just the comfort of ordering from the same catalog they’ve used since grad school.

Graphite isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. That clarity is one of its superpowers.

What hadn’t quite caught up yet was the imagery.

Despite wearing just about every hat imaginable—co-owners, managers, collaborators, artists, and stewards of a growing creative ecosystem—Tim and Jocelyn had never created joint portraits for their brand. Their visuals didn’t yet reflect the leadership, warmth, and quiet authority they bring into every room, every conference, every conversation.

And that mattered.

Because 2026 marked a milestone: 20 years.

In the choral world, longevity like that isn’t accidental. It’s earned. Tim and Jocelyn weren't interested in nostalgia or fanfare. They wanted clarity about what came next.

We began with a design consultation, talking through the direction, the feeling, and the story their brand needed to carry forward. Very quickly the visual language came into focus: boutique without feeling exclusive. Approachable without being casual. 

From there we moved into wardrobe, refining clothing choices so everything felt cohesive and intentional.

At the same time Alissa, my talented hair and makeup artist, connected with Jocelyn to talk through how she wanted to look and feel on the day of the session, so when she stepped into the studio every detail was already in place.

Tim and Jocelyn created a Pinterest mood board of artistic references that moved well beyond traditional couple portraits. It became the starting point for shaping the tone and direction of their session. 

When shoot day arrived, a calm excitement settled over the studio. Jocelyn stepped in and headed straight for Alissa’s chair for a little well-earned pampering while Tim and I reviewed the plan for the session.

Music drifted through the room while lights were being set up and the studio slowly shifted from preparation to possibility.

As the session unfolded, something else became clear. Tim and Jocelyn share the kind of easy rhythm that only comes from building something meaningful together. Years of collaboration created an unspoken awareness that translated effortlessly on camera.

Looking ahead, Graphite Publishing continues expanding its reach nationally and globally while staying rooted in service to composers and conductors who care deeply about the future of choral music. The work is still evolving. Still pushing boundaries. Still guided by the same values that shaped its first twenty years.

Because Tim and Jocelyn are more than publishers.

They are advocates. Curators. Bridge-builders.

They help music find its voice.
They help artists find their audience.

And like the composers they champion, they understand something essential: the most meaningful work is never finished. It’s simply the next movement in a much larger piece.

The portraits we created together mark a milestone. But more than that, they capture something truer.

Not just who Tim and Jocelyn have been.

But who they are still becoming.