Chorus Master

David Howard
David Howard is Associate Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Stephen F. Austin State University where he conducts the Choral Union and the Women’s Choir. Both ensembles pursue a diverse repertoire ranging from the sixteenth century to newly composed works. He also teaches applied voice, choral conducting, and serves as the chorus-master for SFA Opera Theater productions. Prior to his appointment at SFA, Dr. Howard conducted choirs at the secondary level in the Oklahoma City area where his choirs were warmly received at in-state festivals as well as those in Texas, Illinois, and Colorado. He also served as artistic director/conductor of two auditioned civic choruses: the Steiner Chorale in Lansing, Michigan and the Midwest Choral Society in Midwest City, Oklahoma.

In addition to choral conducting, Dr. Howard maintains an active solo performance schedule with frequent oratorio and cantata presentations by churches, university choirs, community choirs, and schools. Most recently he appeared as the baritone soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana with the choirs and orchestra of the SFA School of Music, and in Vaughan Williams’s Dona nobis pacem with the choirs and orchestra of the Eastern Michigan University School of Music. Dr. Howard has also appeared in various opera productions. As a recitalist, Dr. Howard frequently performs with pianist Manuel Antonio Carrillo, specializing in lieder, English art song, and the music of Bach.

Dr. Howard holds a number of professional affiliations including those with the International Federation for Choral Music, the American Choral Directors Association, the National Collegiate Choral Organization, the College Music Society, Pi Sigma Alpha honorary fraternity (Mortar Board), and Alpha Chi honorary fraternity. Dr. Howard is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World, and in Who’s Who among America’s Teachers.

He holds the Bachelor of Music Education degree and Master of Music degree in vocal performance (cum laude) from the University of Central Oklahoma and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from Michigan State University. His conducting teachers were David Rayl, Jonathan Reed, Sandra Snow, and Lon Dehnert. Dr. Howard resides in Nacogdoches, Texas where he serves as Director of Music at First Methodist Church.