Nebraska Choral Directors Recognizes Wyman

       The Cornell Runestad Award is a lifetime achievement award presented by the Nebraska Choral Directors Association recognizing years of extraordinary service and commitment to music education in Nebraska. Named for Cornell Runestad, this award uses as a model the dedication of a man that used his own varied experiences in choral music to develop a choral program representing the best in Choral Art at Wayne State College.

       This year the Cornell Runestad Award was presented to Dr. William A. Wyman by the Nebraska Choral Directors Association at the Summer Convention at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska on Tuesday, July 10, 2012. Dr. Wyman is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Nebraska Wesleyan University where he has conducted the Nebraska Wesleyan University Choir for 31 years. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at Bethany College, W. Va., and Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in voice at West Virginia University. He has also studied at Ohio State University and Westminster Choir College.

     His nominator, Wes Hansmeyer from Norris High School, had the following to way: “As a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, one of the qualities I have appreciated most about Dr. Wyman, a quality rarely written about in any conductor biography, is his dedication to his students, both past and current, and dedication to those he works with in the world of choralmusic and life. Dr. Wyman seems to never forget any of his students, no matter their major in college or path in life, nor anyone else he meets along his career journey. He truly has an uncanny memory for those with whom he connects. I believe most people who know Bill Wyman well, including his former students, know and appreciate how Dr. Wyman has a great sense of humor, loves to offer a good natured tease every now and then and is sincerely interested in people and fostering relationships. I believe it is one of the main reasons he has been so successful.”