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Jan Bickel - Choral Conductor

Dr. Jan Bickel retired from her position as Professor of Music/Director of Vocal Studies at Saint Xavier University in Chicago in 2015. As a faculty member at SXU, Dr. Bickel was awarded the Saint Xavier University Award for outstanding service, the Teaching Excellence Award, the Excellence in Scholarship, and the Excellence in Research awards, was nominated and listed in Who's Who Among American Teachers in the USA during consecutive years, and received numerous faculty research and creative production grants. She presented several workshops and conference presentations nationally regarding her research project, in collaboration with Professor Martha M. Morris - Enhancing Woodwind and Brass Tone Quality Through Vocal Tract Resonance.

Dr. Bickel was born and educated in the Midwest; earning a liberal arts degree in music from St. Mary's College at Notre Dame, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Chicago Conservatory, where she studied with renowned contralto Madame Sonia Sharnova, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Dr. Bickel recently published the second edition of Vocal Technique, A Physiologic Approach for Plural Publishing. It is available from the publisher and many online and retail stores.

At Saint Xavier University, Dr. Bickel conducted the University Chorale, Women’s Ensemble, Men’s Ensemble, University Chamber Singers, and the Women of Distinction ensemble. Her choral ensembles are known for presenting a wide variety of musical styles and languages from the chants of Hildegard von Bingen to the contemporary sounds of living composers such as Gwyneth Walker, Stephen Paulus (d. 2014), Imant Raminsh and a variety of traditional and non-west composers. The University Chamber Singers recorded two compact discs under her baton. Of Wind and Voice is a recording of music arranged or composed specifically for the chamber singers and the Flutes LTD choir of the Chicago flute choir ensemble Flutes Unlimited. Dr. Bickel was a frequent adjudicator at choral festivals, and conducted at both the college and high school level in that capacity. She was a choral clinician for the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Women's Choral festival from its inception. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the Voice Foundation.

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© 2014 Jan Bickel
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