PSU chamber choir goes to the Big Apple!

The Portland State University chamber choir has been invited as one of eight collegiate choirs to sing for the American Choral Directors Association in New York in February.

The PSU chamber choir, 35 voices strong, is under the direction of Dr. Bruce Browne, who heads the choral studies program. Browne’s love of performing and teaching, coupled with his leadership for more than two decades, has created one of the best choirs in the nation. And the choir has the honors to prove it. In 2001, the choir earned five gold and silver awards at international competition in Germany. In July 1999, the choir earned a silver medal at the prestigious World Polyphony Competition in Seville, Spain.

In addition to Browne’s duties at PSU, he is the former conductor and artistic director of Choral Cross-Ties, Oregon’s only professional chamber choir, and has led the Portland Symphonic Choir for more than 25 years.

“The whole university should be very proud of the chamber choir” says Jeff Morgan, publicist for the School of Fine and Performing Arts. “This truly is the biggest honor that has come before the chamber choir.”

“This is a profound honor. More than 300 choirs audition, so the competition was fierce. It is especially impressive, as this is the third time that the chamber choir has been invited to participate,” Browne said.

In 1985 and 1997, Browne took the choir to the American Choral Directors Association Conference.

Browne is a professor of music and the chair of the vocal and choral area at PSU. He is also the founder and director of Choral Cross-Ties.

Browne was named Teacher of the Year in 1986 and is former president of the Northwest division of the American Choral Directors Association. He has been awarded sabbaticals to teach in Guadalajara and in London, and has been a visiting professor at the University of Iowa.

He has been a jurist/clinician or a guest conductor in virtually every region of the country, as well as Germany, Spain, Estonia, England and Mexico. He has served on panels for the National Endowment of the Arts. Browne has been guest conductor for the Edmonton, Alberta, Pro Coro Canada and the Phoenix Bach Choir of Arizona.

In June 2001, Browne guest-conducted at Carnegie Hall. In June and July of 2001, he guest-conducted at the Prague Festival.