Directors
Betsy Cook Weber
Director of Choral Studies
Director, Moores School Concert Chorale and University Women's Chorus
e-mail: bweber
mail [dot] uh [dot] edu
office: MSM 156
office phone: (713) 743-3194
Betsy Cook Weber is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Houston's Moores School of Music. She teaches a full load of coursework, oversees the large and varied activities of the choral area at the Moores School, and is also highly active as a clinician, adjudicator, lecturer, and conductor. It is her work with the Moores School Concert Chorale, however, that has brought her the most notoriety and acclaim.
Most recently, in May 2011, Concert Chorale performed and competed in the prestigious Florilège Vocal de Tours in Tours, France, winning second place (ex aqueo) in the Mixed Choir category and first place (ex aqueo) for best world premiere (A Door Ajar by David Ashley White.)
In 2009, Concert Chorale performed and competed in the 47th Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales, UK, also one of the world's most prestigious choral competitions. Under Dr. Weber's direction, Chorale was selected to represent the United States in the Eisteddfod's opening concert; they were also accepted into four competitive categories. Concert Chorale won or placed in every category in which they were entered, receiving two third places (Youth Chorus and Folk Song), one second place (Mixed Chorus), and a first prize in the coveted Chamber Choir category. Judges comments included "de luxe singing, eliciting admiration and gratitude," "wonderfully elegant and humorous," "sophisticated choir --- expertly prepared and with a finely-tuned corporate ear."
In 2005 and 2008, Chorale received a standing ovation as one of the featured choirs of the 2008 Texas Music Educators Convention in San Antonio TMEA convention. The year before, Chorale sang at the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association in Miami, March 2007, again receiving standing ovations. ACDA performances were described in ChoralNet as "simply outstanding."
It is the ongoing reputation of Weber's work with this ensemble that has brought numerous interesting opportunities for UH singers, including performances with Houston Chamber Choir, Mercury Baroque, NBC's Clash of the Choirs (New York), the Latin Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Awards, and Star Wars in Concert in Houston's Toyota Center.
Recent and upcoming engagements include serving as conductor of All-State choirs of Nebraska, New York, Virginia, and Arkansas as well as working at festivals in Texas, Florida, California, Mississippi, Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, and New Mexico. She will also present several lectures for ACDA and MENC chapters in West Virginia, Alabama, and Texas.
Before coming to the University of Houston, Dr. Weber was a successful music teacher in the public schools at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels, during which time choirs under her direction won numerous competitions and awards. She also served seven years as Assistant and, later, Associate Director of the Houston Symphony Chorus, helping prepare major works for renowned conductors including Robert Shaw, Christoph Eschenbach, Roger Wagner, Nicholas McKegan, and Christopher Seaman.
Dr. Weber holds degrees from the University of North Texas, Westminster Choir College (Princeton, NJ), and the University of Houston.
Charles Hausmann
Director of Graduate Choral Studies
Director, Moores School Choral Artists
e-mail: charles [dot] hausmannmail [dot] uh [dot] edu
office: MSM 154
office phone: (713) 743-3160
Dr. Charles Hausmann is Professor of Conducting and Director of Graduate Choral Studies at the Moores School of Music where he conducts the Moores School Choral Artists, teaches choral conducting and literature, and supervises the master's and doctoral programs in conducting. As conductor of the Houston Symphony Chorus since 1986, Dr. Hausmann has prepared the chorus for over 300 performances with the Symphony and has lead them on numerous tours to Mexico and Europe. Also active as a church musician, he has been Director of Music at churches in Colorado, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Texas. He currently serves as Director of the St. Philip Presbyterian Church Choir in Houston.
Choral ensembles under his direction have received acclaim through appearances at major music conventions and festivals in the United States, Mexico and Europe. He has served widely as choral clinician, guest conductor and vocal soloist. In addition, he is the author of journal articles and co-author of a textbook on choral music. Dr. Hausmann holds degrees from Westminster Choir College, The College of New Jersey and the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri. Last season he prepared over forty performances with university, symphony, and church choirs. Major works prepared under his direction last season include: Mendelssohn's Elijah, Kodaly's, Te Deum, Brahms' Triumphlied, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, and Orff's Carmina Burana. He also prepares the annual performances of Handel's Messiah and holiday pops programs with the Houston Symphony.
This past Summer he prepared choruses for performances of Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, and the Berlioz Requiem with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria in Mexico City, an orchestra for which he has prepared numerous major works. In July he conducted the Ocean Grove New Jersey Choral Festival with a chorus of 1675 singers.
This season he will prepare and conduct choirs in performances of Bach's Mass in B minor, Barber's Prayers of Kierkegaard, Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem, Bruckner's Te Deum, Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Rachmaninoff's The Bells, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Schubert's Die Gesang der Geister uber den Wassern, Handel's Messiah, and Pops performances which include An American Salute, and the annual A Very Merry Pops Christmas Concerts with the Houston Symphony.
Other current guest conducting engagements will include performances of Handel's Messiah in Mexico City, and a Carnegie Hall appearance conducting Mozart's Requiem with the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra.
Justin Smithgmail [dot] com
