Michael Lister

Degrees

Professional Experience

Dr. Michael Lister currently serves as Department Chair of the Music Department at the College of Saint Rose and is Associate Professor of Choral Music at the College of Saint Rose. Dr. Lister holds a Doctor of Arts degree in Choral Conducting at Ball State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and a Master of Music in Music Theory from Indiana University. For six years, Dr. Lister was the Director of Choirs at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, a private junior high and high school in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He has also served on the faculty of Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, and Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition to serving as Zone 4 Representative for the New York/American Choral Directors Association, Dr. Lister maintains active membership in numerous organizations, including the National Association for Music Education, the National Collegiate Choral Organization, and the College Music Society, for which he is the Campus Representative. Dr. Lister currently serves as the Music Director of First Presbyterian Church in Albany, New York.

Teaching Interests

Dr. Lister conducts three choirs at The College of Saint Rose: the major ensemble Masterworks Chorale of approximately 90 singers; the Madrigal Ensemble of approximately 18 singers that focuses on early music and modern music composed in older styles; and Men’s Glee, which focuses on a wide variety of styles. Dr. Lister conducts at least one major work for chorus and orchestra; recent examples include the W.A. Mozart Requiem, F. Haydn Missa in Illo Tempore (or timpani mass), A. Dvorak Te Deum, J.S. Bach Magnificat, M. Lauridsen Mid Winter Songs, and A.Ramirez Missa Criolla. Dr. Lister also teaches course and private lessons in choral conducting, preparing the next generation of musicians to lead their own ensembles. Dr. Lister also enjoys teaching course in Music Theory and History and collaborating with his fellow faculty members in other performances.

Research/Creative Works

Throughout his career, Michael Lister has remained an active conductor, clinician, and performer. He has served as Guest Conductor for and as group adjudicator for various NYSSMA events. He has conducted several New York All County Festivals and the 2010 Zone 6 Area All State Festival Women’s Chorus. He studied conducting with Jo-Michael Scheibe and R.D. Mathey and has conducted in masterclass with Helmuth Rilling. Dr. Lister has also published several CD and book reviews in the American Organist and the Choral Journal and has presented at several regional and international conferences on male chorus music of the nineteenth century, the 20th century choral chanson, and singer placement in the male chorus. As a vocalist, Dr. Lister has performed with the Indianapolis Chorus, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Master Chorus of Southern Florida, the Carnegie Hall Masterworks Series, The Cathedral of All Saints Men and Boys Choir, and The Saint Rose Camerata.