Robert Jones – Artistic Director
Robert Jones directs the University Chorale at the University of Dayton. Chorale has enjoyed collaberations with professional ensembles in recent years. In 1999, Chorale performed Johannes Brahms’ Requiem with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus and joined them again in November 2002 to present Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem. Chorale has enjoyed performances abroad in the last three years, singing in many of the revered institutions of Christendom. Chorale initially toured Europe in May 1999. The ensemble performed at St. Giles (Scotland), St. Paul’s (London) and Notre Dame Cathedral (Paris). Chroale concertized in Prague, Salzburg, Vienna, Venice, and Rome in June 2001. Concert sites included St. Vitus Cathedral (Prague, Czech Republic), St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Votivkirke (Vienna) St. Franziskanekirche (Salzburg), St. Florian’s Abbey (burial site of composer Anton Bruckner), S. Giovanni e Paolo (Venice) and the Pantheon (Rome).
Dr. Jones’ other duties include teaching vocal music education and conducting courses and supervising vocal music student teachers. Including his public school experience, Dr. Jones has served as an adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician in the East and Midwest regions. He has appeared as a soloist with the Dayton Bach Society where he performed the role of Jesus in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, a role he also sang with the Choral Union of the University of Ohio in 1998. With the Miami (FL) Bach Society he appeared as a soloist in performances of Heinrich Schultz’ Requiem.
Dr. Jones is also artistic direct of Musica! , a professional choral ensemble known throughout the Miami Valley for its performance excellence. Its musical repertoire ranges from seasonal selections, to partsongs and sacred literature from all musical eras to vocal jazz and spirituals. Musica! first CD, Great Day, was released in 2001. The ensemble has performed for the Ohio Choral Directors Conference and the Ohio Music Education Conference, Dr. Jones’ articles and music reviews have appeared in School, Musician, and Director, the American Choral Directors Journal, the Catholic Music Educator, The Chorus America Newsletter, the Ohio Choral Directors Association Newsletter, Chorus, and TRIAD, the publication of the Ohio Music Educators Conference. Dr. Jones has presented sessions at the National Association of Teachers Midwest Summer Conference on the Mature Voice, at the Ohio Choral Directors Conference and the Ohio Music Educators Conference. Additionally, he has published arrangements and compositions and was employed as a choral editor for Plymouth Music Company in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Dr. Jones completed his M.M. in Vocal Performance at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and his DMA in Choral Conducting at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the Music Educators National Conference, a past officer and member of the Ohio Choral Directors Association, and a life member of the American Choral Directors Association. He was named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2000.