Dale Warland
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (January 2008) |
Dale Warland (born April 14, 1932) is a retired American conductor and composer and founder of the Grammy nominated Dale Warland Singers.[1]
While enrolled at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, Warland began rehearsing and performing with choirs. After graduating, he spent two years in the U.S. Air Force where he started a choir of servicemen. The choir was soon invited to perform for Vice President Richard Nixon.[1]
After the Air Force, he completed his Master of Arts degree in theory and composition at the University of Minnesota in 1960 and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting at the University of Southern California in 1965.[1]
A brief tenure as director of choral music at Humboldt State College follow, leading to a professorship in music and director of choral activities at Macalester College, where he remained until 1985.[1]
In 1972, he was asked to form a choir for the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. This group of 40 singers became the Dale Warland Singers. Under his direction, the Singers toured Europe and were awarded the ASCAP Margaret Hillis Achievement Award, ASCAP awards for Adventurous Programming (1992, 1993, 1996 and 1999), the ASCAP Victor Herbert Award (2003), the Distinguished Master Artists Award (University of South Florida (2004)), the Sally Ordway Irvine Award for Vision (2003), and many others. Their 2003 CD, "Walden Pond" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance.[1] Over the years, the Singers became known for exceptional blend, intonation, attacks, and uniformity of sound.[original research?]
Warland retired in 2004.[1] Warland continues working with young students and directors through the Choirs of Note.[citation needed] In 2007 he was commissioned by the Utah Chamber Artists to write an a capella piece. He composed Benedicamus Domino for SSATBB, and the Utah Chamber Artists will perform it at their Winter Concert on March 3, 2008, in preparation for their 2008 European Summer tour.