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COCA Spotlight: New prof and conductor embraces community chorus

When Dr. Michael Hanawalt attended Florida State University as a doctoral candidate in choral music education, he assisted Dr. Andre Thomas in conducting the Tallahassee Community Chorus. Comprised of 250 volunteer singers, the chorus deeply…

When Dr. Michael Hanawalt attended Florida State University as a doctoral candidate in choral music education, he assisted Dr. Andre Thomas in conducting the Tallahassee Community Chorus. Comprised of 250 volunteer singers, the chorus deeply impacted Hanawalt’s views on teaching choral music and creating a cohesive group atmosphere. 

This formative experience was later instrumental in his development as a conductor and educator at Wichita State University. Now, Hanawalt is back at Florida State as Associate Professor of Choral Conducting and Music Education.

Along with his teaching responsibilities, he is also the new Artistic Director for the Tallahassee Community Chorus. Hanawalt will lead the chorus for the first time in November at their annual fall concert. 

“I was Dr. Thomas’ student while I was here, and now I get to come back and take the reins,” says Hanawalt. “It is a wonderful privilege to be back and see so many good friends and familiar faces, and make music with them.”   

Hanawalt is also looking forward to collaborating with other disciplines during his tenure. The chorus’ January concert features a score written by Richard Einhorn that will accompany silent film, “The Passion of Joan of Arc.” 

This year’s upcoming fall concert celebrates Austrian composer Wolfgang Mozart’s “Requiem.” Hanawalt enjoys how the classical piece contains pictorial elements in its language as well as a passion that will be tangible for audiences. 

“It’s a piece that the chorus can do for our first time together and really master, while at the same time allow us an opportunity to get to know each other a little bit,” says Hanawalt. 

Anton Armstrong at St. Olaf College first lit Hanawalt’s passion for choral music during his time studying for his bachelor’s degree in music. Shortly thereafter, Hanawalt formed a professional male vocal ensemble, Cantus, which toured nationally. His time pursuing a master’s degree at Michigan State University set him on the path to choral conducting, before completing his doctorate at FSU. 

As a professor at Wichita State University, Hanawalt directed the symphony orchestra chorus, similar to Tallahassee’s Community Chorus. During one of his last concerts in Kansas, Hanawalt prepared the chorus and sang as a tenor soloist with his colleagues. He says the opportunity was one of the most unique performances of his career as it highlighted the similarities and differences between being a performer and conductor. 

Read the rest of the story by visiting the Tallahassee Democrat

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