Patrick Patton, Chorale Director

Music Director Allan R. Scott recently appointed Patrick Patton the next Chorale Director of the Helena Symphony. Dr. Patton is currently Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Casper College where he served as chair of the department of music. There is the conductor of the Casper College Collegiate Chorale, Women's and Men's Choirs, and the Contemporary Singers vocal jazz ensemble. He is also artistic director of the Choral Arts Ensemble of Casper, a 24-voice adult chamber choir in Casper, Wyoming.

Dr. Patton holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and the Master of Music degrees in Choral Conducting from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. He received the Bachelor of Music in Education degree from the University of Wyoming.

He has made over 400 appearances nationally and internationally as guest conductor, adjudicator, and workshop clinician. Some of his credits include conductor of the All-Northwest ACDA Women's Choir, the All-State Honor Choirs in Colorado , Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Most recently, Dr. Patton accepted an invitation to conduct the Northwest Division ACDA 9 th and 10 th grade honor choir at the Boise convention in 2004.

Most recently, Dr. Patton conducted the Wyoming All-State Youth Chorale in a New York City Avery Fischer Hall performance in May of 2001. The combined high school choirs from the state of Wyoming performed several works of significance under Dr. Patton's direction.

Dr. Patton served as guest conductor for the Wyoming Ambassadors of Music tour to Europe in 1999, 2001, and 2003. The 100-voice choir presented concerts in England , France , Germany , Austria , Italy , and Switzerland. He has accepted an invitation to conduct the Wyoming Ambassadors in Europe again in 2005.

Dr. Patton traveled to Thailand in November of 1998 as a guest of the International School System and Northwest Airlines. While there he served as guest conductor for the Bangkok International Choral Festival. The weeklong event culminated with a concert combining the 250-voice choir from five International Schools in Bangkok .

He recently traveled to the country of Brazil as conductor of the Wyoming Partners Chorale and presenter of workshops in choral conducting and interpretation to college professors, teachers, and students. He returned to Brazil in December of 1994 as a guest of the University of Brasilia offering workshops in choral rehearsal techniques and civic choir organization. In addition, he traveled professionally with the U.S.O. overseas entertainment organization and the "Up With People!" shows serving as lead guitarist, vocal arranger, and musical director.

Dr. Patton's ensembles have performed on numerous occasions at the Wyoming State Music Educator's National Conference and regional ACDA conventions. He has presented workshops at both the state and regional levels for MENC and ACDA. He has also been featured as guest tenor soloist with the Casper Symphony and Casper Civic Chorale. In addition to the regularly scheduled concert series, Dr. Patton directs the annual Casper College Madrigal Feast and serves as co-director of the Casper College Jazz Festival. He is an active member of the National Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi, Music Educators National Conference, the American Choral Directors Association, and the International Association of Jazz Educators.

His wife Marcia is director of choirs at Kelly Walsh High School and founder/conductor of the Casper Children's Chorale. The Pattons have two children, Neely, age 23, and John, age 20.