The Tennessee Tech University Chorale, an auditioned choir, will perform a diverse repertoire of sacred and secular music. Among the pieces is “Splendor (From Illuminare)” by composer Elaine Hagenberg. The performance will take place at Greyfriars Kirk, located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Founded in 1620, Greyfriars Kirk is notable for being the first church built in post-Reformation Edinburgh. The church is also famous for its cemetery and the touching story of Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye Terrier who faithfully guarded his owner John Gray’s grave for 14 years. Greyfriars Bobby is buried in the adjacent Greyfriars Kirkyard.
The Tennessee Tech University Chorale is the premier choral ensemble on the campus of Tennessee Tech University. In 2014, The Tech Chorale was selected to be one of three choirs to perform “Belshazzar’s Feast” by William Walton with the Jacksonville Symphony at the Southern Region ACDA Convention under the direction of English conductor Simon Halsey. In 2016 they traveled to Ireland, Wales, and England giving performances throughout those countries. While in Dublin, they had an opportunity to work with Michael McGlynn and Lucy Champion; Director and singers in the Irish vocal ensemble Anúna. In 2017 the Tech Chorale performed, the multi-movement work, “Jubilate Deo” by Dan Forrest in Carnegie Hall, under the baton of Dr. Zamer. In 2022 The Tech Chorale was selected to perform at the Tennessee Music Education Association Conference in Nashville, TN. In the summer of 2022, the Tech Chorale performed throughout the country of Costa Rica, singing collaboratively with choirs from that country. The Tech Chorale is excited to be back in Ireland and looks forward to their continued tour on to Scotland.
Dr. Craig Zamer is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Tennessee Tech University where he directs the TTU Concert Choir and the Tennessee Tech University Chorale. Additionally, Dr. Zamer is also the artistic director of the Cookeville Mastersingers, an adult community choir. In addition, Dr. Zamer also teaches undergraduate courses in choral conducting, choral literature, and secondary choral methods.
Dr. Zamer received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Virginia Tech University. He also holds the M.M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in Music Education and Choral Conducting from The Florida State University. Before his graduate work he taught high school choral music at Stone Bridge High School in Loudoun County, Virginia.
In 2018 Dr. Zamer debuted in Carnegie Hall conducting choirs from Tennessee and Mississippi in a performance of Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo. In 2023 Dr. Zamer conducted the combination of his TTU choirs and the Cookeville Mastersingers in the Tennessee Premiere of Elaine Hagenberg’s new multi-movement work, Illuminare, with Elaine Hagenberg in attendance.
Dr. Zamer has been an invited clinician, conductor, and adjudicator of SATB, Treble, TTBB and middle school choirs in over 10 US states. Dr. Zamer has also conducted his own choirs and festival choirs abroad throughout Great Britain, Eastern Europe, and China. Dr. Zamer has been a long-time member of ACDA, has served in various capacities for Southern Region of ACDA, and is currently serving at President-Elect of Tennessee ACDA.
