- Home >
- Top Stories
Nance appointed choral activities director
February 09, 2007
Music professor Richard Nance was appointed the director of choral activities and conductor of the Choir of the West in late January.
For the past 15 years, Nance has served as the associate director of choral activities and conductor of the University Singers, University Chorale and Choral Union. This spring, he will continue to conduct Choral Union and the University Singers, as well as the Choir of the West.
“His accomplishments alone eminently qualify him for this position,” said Dave Robbins, chair of the music department. “His previous contributions to the PLU choral program and his aspirations – all of that added up to his qualifications make him the perfect person to carry on the PLU choral tradition.”
Nance is a nationally recognized choral conductor and composer, and his published choral works have been performed widely throughout the United States. He is also an active member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), serving as the state president for Washington and the choral review editor for the Choral Journal.
Under his direction, his three PLU choirs have appeared at several ACDA northwest division conventions. The Choral Union, which is comprised of community members and PLU faculty, staff and students, has also appeared at the ACDA national convention in San Antonio, Texas, the World Harp Congress in Geneva, Switzerland, and the Cambridge Summer Music Festival in England.
“Choral Union is one of the premiere choral ensembles in the country,” Robbins said. “Their appearances around the world are top stuff.”
In his new role, Nance will oversee PLU’s entire choral program. His responsibilities include teaching the conducting course sequence, helping plan performance tours, coordinating events and courses with fellow faculty members, and helping to recruit and audition students.
“The great thing about this is it brings a new dimension to my career,” Nance said.
His new position will stretch him professionally and expand his skills, he said. He traditionally taught secondary music education course. The conducting series is new to him, and he’s excited to delve into it, he said.
Additionally, working with the Choir of the West will give Nance the opportunity to learn and work with new, more complex repertoire. The majority of the choir’s members are upperclassmen, and the talented group is able to tackle difficult selections, allowing him to dig into a new class of literature, Nance explained.
The choir traditionally sings at commencement ceremonies, convocation and other university events. The ensemble will also be embarking on an international tour with the University Symphony Orchestra to Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania this summer.
“I’m excited,” Nance said. “The future looks really bright.”
“His accomplishments alone eminently qualify him for this position,” said Dave Robbins, chair of the music department. “His previous contributions to the PLU choral program and his aspirations – all of that added up to his qualifications make him the perfect person to carry on the PLU choral tradition.”
Nance is a nationally recognized choral conductor and composer, and his published choral works have been performed widely throughout the United States. He is also an active member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), serving as the state president for Washington and the choral review editor for the Choral Journal.
Under his direction, his three PLU choirs have appeared at several ACDA northwest division conventions. The Choral Union, which is comprised of community members and PLU faculty, staff and students, has also appeared at the ACDA national convention in San Antonio, Texas, the World Harp Congress in Geneva, Switzerland, and the Cambridge Summer Music Festival in England.
“Choral Union is one of the premiere choral ensembles in the country,” Robbins said. “Their appearances around the world are top stuff.”
In his new role, Nance will oversee PLU’s entire choral program. His responsibilities include teaching the conducting course sequence, helping plan performance tours, coordinating events and courses with fellow faculty members, and helping to recruit and audition students.
“The great thing about this is it brings a new dimension to my career,” Nance said.
His new position will stretch him professionally and expand his skills, he said. He traditionally taught secondary music education course. The conducting series is new to him, and he’s excited to delve into it, he said.
Additionally, working with the Choir of the West will give Nance the opportunity to learn and work with new, more complex repertoire. The majority of the choir’s members are upperclassmen, and the talented group is able to tackle difficult selections, allowing him to dig into a new class of literature, Nance explained.
The choir traditionally sings at commencement ceremonies, convocation and other university events. The ensemble will also be embarking on an international tour with the University Symphony Orchestra to Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania this summer.
“I’m excited,” Nance said. “The future looks really bright.”