Bruce Chamberlain

Rex Woods, Vice Director of the School of Music, believes that a faculty member’s greatest achievement is the success of his or her students. “The students’ accomplishments are the highest testimony of dedication to teaching,” Woods commented. “The arts provide many paths for success, and this award celebrates the excellence of faculty through the outstanding work of students.”

Chamberlain spoke enthusiastically about his students and the choral conducting program he oversees. “I want to make sure the students become the choral conductors they want to be,” he stated. Chamberlain currently is mentoring 17 graduate students—a huge number—who were attracted to the UA because of its reputation. Choral conducting at UA is one of the largest concentrations of the field anywhere.

Chamberlain has been successful in getting graduates placed in teaching positions conducting collegiate choirs, the top echelon of choirs. Recent graduates currently hold Director of Choral Activiti (DCA) positions at such institutions as the University of Alabama – Huntsville, Southwestern College in Kansas, George Washington University, and North Dakota State University. Others have received positions as Assistant Professor at Washington State University and University of Iowa. Spring ’03 MM graduate Korre Foster received a significant grant to study in Paris. Another graduate is working through AmeriCorps with young people in Detroit.

Chamberlain continues his mentorship of students after they graduate and recently organized an alumni reception at the American Choral Directors Association conference in New York.

As Professor and DCA at UA since 2000, Chamberlain currently conducts private lessons and mentoring for the 17 graduate students, teaches courses, conducts the Arizona Choir, and oversees the graduate students as they conduct 8 auditioned choirs of more than 480 students. He also conducts the symphonic choir being established by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.

Chamberlain finds his role all-consuming but very satisfying. “Choral music is off the charts,” he enthused. “When the great minds of Western art music sat down to write their great piece, they wrote a work for choir. Choral music is one of the great joys of my existence.”

Chamberlain concluded, “I absolutely love Tucson and am having a great time at the UA. This is a great place to be.”