BEING BETTER TOGETHER: Understanding the voice within the choral ensemble

Dr. Paul D. Head

Dr. Paul D. Head celebrates 27 years as the distinguished named chair of choral studies at the University of Delaware this year. Choirs under his leadership have been recognized throughout the United States and Europe, appearing six times on national and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) while winning awards at international competitions in Spain, Hungary, Germany, and the prestigious Grand Prix Award in the Estonian Choral Competition. Most recently, he has led the Delaware Choral Scholars to recognition as divisional first place winners at the Llangollen Eisteddfod Competition in Wales, and three divisional awards at the World Choir Games in Auckland, New Zealand where the choir was deemed by Interkultur Choral Council as the #1 choir in the world.

He has conducted honor choirs in 27 of the United States as well as those in several choirs in Great Britain and Europe.  He also served as President of ACDA-Eastern Division. He frequently serves as an adjudicator and clinician with recent engagements in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa, Europe, and throughout the United States. 

Also highly regarded as a pedagogue and author of several books, Dr. Head’s most notable contribution is his role as co-author and editor of the Oxford Handbook of Choral Pedagogy, in addition to contributions to numerous GIA publications on music education and rehearsal technique.

Under Head’s leadership, the Delaware Choral Scholars have enjoyed residencies with several organizations including the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, and Manhattan Productions in New York City. For six years, they served as the core ensemble of the Choral Conducting Symposium in Provence, France – an intensive program for aspiring choral directors from all over the United States.

Prior to coming to Delaware, Dr. Head taught in the California public schools where his choirs received many awards, culminating in being named as state champions in the Golden State Choral Competition – a prestigious festival for the finest school choirs in the state. 

He is the proud father of three grown children, two grandchildren, and resides in rural Pennsylvania with his wife and lovable dog named Charley.