STARKVILLE, Miss.–An Alabama musician with national and international conducting experience is becoming the new director of choral activities at Mississippi State.
Gary D. Packwood, who assumes his new duties this fall, will administer the choral area and conduct all its ensembles, said Michael Brown, head of the university’s music department. “We’re thrilled to have someone with Dr. Packwood’s background and experiences join our faculty,” Brown said. “He will help us build on the foundation of an already strong program.”Packwood currently is an associate professor and director of choral activities at the University of Montevallo (Ala.).
Prior to completing a doctorate at Louisiana State University, he received a bachelor of music education degree from Southeastern Louisiana State University and a master’s from Florida Atlantic University. Choirs under Packwood’s direction have performed, by invitation, during the Alabama and Florida state conferences of the Music Educators National Conference, Alabama state conference of the American Choral Directors Association, and national conferences of the Music Educators National Conference Biennial Convention.
Internationally engagements include guest conductor and lecturer for the 2010 Festival Internacional de Musica, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Brazil; Visiting Professor of Music and Conducting, Sultan Idris Education University, Tanjung Malim; and Aswara Conservatory of Music, Kuala Lumpur, both in Malaysia; Guest conductor, Conservatory of Music University of Uberlandia, and Festival Internacional de Musica, Universidad Federal de Piaui, both in Brazil. His choirs also have been invited to perform at some of Europe’s most distinct venues, including Notre Dame and Chartres cathedrals, La Madeleine Church, Sacra Coeur Church, and the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach, Normandy.
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