Concert Sponsors

Ms. Florence Burk
and Friends

The Conductor

Gary R. Schwartzhoff is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he conducts Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, The Singing Statesmen and teaches conducting. Schwartzhoff received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa and a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa. A recipient of the Helen Kemper Doctoral Fellowship Award, he received a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Conducting at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, where he studied conducting with Dr. Eph Ehly.

Schwartzhoff has been active throughout his professional career in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) where he served
as President of the North Central Division from 1992-94. After previously serving at the state, divisional and national levels of the ACDA Repertoire and Standards
Committee, Schwartzhoff was named the Male Chorus Chair for the state of Wisconsin for 2007-2008. In 2007, the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association (WCDA) named Schwartzhoff the Outstanding Church Musician in the state of Wisconsin. During his career, Schwartzhoff has presented choirs at twenty-two conventions before the state, divisional and national levels of ACDA and MENC.
In 2009, Schwartzhoff conducted the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Choral Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC.

Schwartzhoff is the artistic director and conductor for The Master Singers,
a community chamber ensemble with membership from throughout the
Greater Chippewa Valley. He serves as Director of Music at the First Congregational Church in Eau Claire, where he conducts the Chancel Choir. Schwartzhoff has served as guest conductor and adjudicator for numerous choral festivals throughout the United States and Canada. He is married to Nancy Schwartzhoff and they have two daughters, Jenifer Morgan (Jerry),
and Rebecca Johnson (Andy), and two grandsons, Brady and Alex.