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Conductors

Dr. James Stegall  
Sallee 200
309.298.1378   
jc-stegall@wiu.edu  

James Stegall is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Western Illinois University.   The Illinois Music Educators Association recently honored Dr. Stegall with the “Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence” at their All-State Conference in Peoria, Illinois. Described as a vibrant, energetic conductor, he develops enthusiasm in his students through effective communication both in the classroom and on the podium. His natural approach to voice and conducting supports artistic singing while encouraging vocal health. Through juried application, his Western Illinois University Singers have appeared at over 18 professional music conferences at the state, regional and national levels and also on professional venues with the Kansas City Symphony, the Peoria Symphony, the Phoenix Symphony, Dallas Brass, and with jazz artist Nneena Frelon.

Dr. Stegall has received international attention through his Western Illinois University “First Year Experience” project, Nature and Spirituality: An Interdisciplinary Choral Concert presented at the International Conference on Arts and Humanities in Honolulu, Hawaii and also for 52 Years of Song: The music of American master composer Kirke Mechem for the Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium in St. John’s, Newfoundland.   He makes frequent appearances as a guest conductor, All-State clinician and lecturer on vocal production, choral conducting and motivation throughout the country. 

Dr. Stegall is a member of the College Music Society, The Society for American Music, the American Choral Directors Association, the National Collegiate Choral Organization, the Illinois Music Educators Association and is a founding member of Southwest and Midwest Liederkranz.  He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (D.M.A.) and Stephen F. Austin State University (B.M. / M.A.).

 

Mr. Lynn Thompson
125 Browne Hall
309.298.1065
l-thompson@wiu.edu

Lynn Thompson, Associate Professor of Music, teaches voice in both Classical and Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) genres. In fall 2010, Mr. Thompson will serve as Artistic Director of the 36th WIU Madrigal Dinners and conductor of the Madrigal Singers. He has taught Phonetics and Diction, Group Voice, Opera Workshop, Vocal Literature and Pedagogy and Music Theatre Auditions and Professional Preparation. Since 1997 Mr. Thompson has musical directed 32 productions for the WIU Department of Theatre and Dance and Summer Music Theatre.  Mr. Thompson is a certified instructor of Somatic Voicework™ -The LoVetri Method.

Mr. Thompson is a Past-President of the Central Illinois chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. He is currently in his third term as Sub-Dean of the Western Illinois University Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In addition to these leadership roles, Mr. Thompson holds memberships in the Music Teacher's National Association, the Organ Historical Society, the College Music Society, the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and the Worship Arts, and the American Choral Director's Association.

Mr. Thompson holds the B.M. and M.M. degrees from the University of Louisville, and has pursued advanced studies at the University of Cincinnati and Shenandoah University. Mr. Thompson was the 1992 Winner of the Norman Treigle Memorial Prize, an award presented jointly by the University of Cincinnati and the New York City Opera. Mr. Thompson has been a Fellow of the Aspen Music School, the Bach Aria Festival and Institute at Stony Brook, the Cleveland Art Song Festival and the NATS Summer Intern Program.

 He has performed as soloist with the Louisville Orchestra, The Louisville Bach Society, Kentucky Opera, The McDonough Choral Society, The Washington Choral Ensemble, Opera of Central Kentucky and The Galesburg Community Chorus. His vocal chamber music appearances include concerts at the Aspen Music Festival and the Grandin Festival, and performances with The Kentucky Center Chamber Players and the Ceruti Chamber Players. From 1990-2001, Mr. Thompson was Co-Artistic Director of Ars Vocalis, an ensemble devoted to the great art song and vocal chamber music repertory.

In addition to his active career as a vocalist, Mr. Thompson has performed throughout the U.S. as a pianist, organist and harpsichordist and has been a professional church musician for 28 years. Mr. Thompson is Sanctuary Choir Director and Coordinator of Music at Wesley United Methodist Church , and organist at St. George’s Episcopal Church, both in Macomb, IL. He has been a National Convention recitalist for the Organ Historical Society. His work as an organist is recorded on OHS recordings and has been featured on Minnesota Public Media’s Pipedreams.

Mr. Thompson’s students perform leading roles on Broadway and in National Tours; have been full-time members of the professional vocal ensemble Chanticleer; and have performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Theatre of Brooklyn, Opera Omaha, Cincinnati Opera, Charleston Stages, Light Opera-Works, Porchlight Theatre, Prather Dinner Theatres, Sierra Repertory Theatre, Black Hills Playhouse, Noble Fool Theatricals, Tent Theatre, Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, Bailiwick Theatre, Des Moines Metro Opera, Dayton Opera, Middlebury Opera and Ohio Light Opera. His students have been national finalists of the MTNA competition, winners at state and regional NATS competitions and at the district and regional levels of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Prior to joining the faculty at WIU, Mr. Thompson taught at St. Catharine College, Northern Kentucky University, and the University of Louisville. Mr. Thompson has taught at Western Illinois University since 1996.

 

Dr. Kelly Miller
212 Browne Hal
309.298.1405l
ka-miller2@wiu.edu

 

 

Kelly A. Miller is Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at Western Illinois University where she conducts the Concert Choir and Jazz Choir. She teaches undergraduate choral methods, vocal techniques, and American popular music. Prior to her appointment at Western, she conducted the Women’s Glee Club at Michigan State University for three years and taught vocal music at the high school level for twelve years in Michigan, Florida, and Nebraska. While in Orlando, Dr. Miller founded the choral/vocal program at Timber Creek High School and received her National Board Certification in secondary choral music. 

In addition to her choral directing, she has maintained a large private voice studio and is in demand to lead choral workshops in leadership and team building. Dr. Miller frequently serves as a clinician and festival adjudicator, and has been invited to conduct Regional Honor Choirs and present workshops in Florida, Michigan, and Nebraska. She has performed at both divisional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and at the Nebraska Music Educators Association Convention. 

    

Miller holds the D.M.A. degree in choral conducting from Michigan State University, the M.M degree in music education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and the B.A. degree in music education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.