Michael Pekel

My experience at WKU in the Masters program in Choral Conducting was rich with hands-on conducting opportunities. These practical, immersive experiences were an essential springboard for my conducting career. Between the Fall of 2014 and the Spring of 2016, I gained great confidence in my ability to lead a choral ensemble in the whole music-making process - from the first rehearsal to the concert stage. The artistic culture and community among the students and professors at WKU is strong.

--- After I completed my degree at WKU, I spent three years in my hometown of Cincinnati, singing and conducting in varied liturgical, professional, and academic settings. I also taught college music theory at Northern Kentucky University. In 2019, I accepted an offer to begin the doctoral program in Choral Conducting at University of Iowa. I enjoy a "full ride" teaching assistantship, with tuition paid and a living stipend. I am slated to finish the academic sequence in the Spring of 2022.