Simpson College to celebrate first choral conducting graduating class

Simpson College will celebrate the first class of graduates from its Master of Music in Choral Conducting program with a commencement ceremony and concert at Smith Chapel on Sunday, Aug. 1.

The ceremony begins at 3 p.m. with family and friends in attendance. The event will be live streamed through the Des Moines Choral Festival’s Facebook page.

“This celebration marks a historic day as we recognize the first graduating class from our Master of Music in Choral Conducting program,” President Marsha Kelliher said. “This class of graduates devoted themselves to their craft and endured a pandemic to reach their goal. We are very proud of all that they and the faculty have accomplished.”

The first cohort of graduates from the MMCC program features nine students from across the country. During the ceremony, each graduate’s work will be highlighted as they conduct a musical piece. Following the ceremony, the graduates will join the rest of the MMCC students and the festival’s professional choral and orchestral musicians to present Vivaldi’s “Gloria” in the final installment of the 2021 Des Moines Choral Festival.

“We are honored to showcase and celebrate these fine conductors. Our new M.M. program is fortunate to count these leaders among its first graduating class,” said Tim McMillin, co-director and conducting faculty member for the program. “They have set the bar high and achieved much over the three summers they worked in the program. They’ve shaped the experience for future generations of students and have been exceptional role models as scholars, musicians and humans. My colleagues and I look forward to following their careers and celebrating their many future accomplishments.”

The MMCC program takes place over three summer terms and is specifically designed for educators. In partnership with CORO, the MMCC program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. To learn more, visit simpson.edu/mmcc.

About Simpson College
Simpson College is a private, liberal arts college located in Iowa with campuses in Indianola, West Des Moines and online. Founded in 1860, the college has 1,268 undergraduate and graduate students. Simpson offers 74 majors, minors and programs in addition to three graduate programs. Outside of the classroom, Simpson is a member of the NCAA Division III American Rivers Conference, hosts eight Greek houses on campus and sponsors many extracurricular options for student involvement.
 
Contact Information
Bryan Geelan, interim vice president for marketing and strategic communication
Direct: 515-961-1608
Email: bryan.geelan@simpson.edu