Randal McChesney is currently President and Executive Director of the Richards Institute of Education Through Music. He has additionally held appointments at the University of Southern California School of Music and Education and Fresno State University and as advisor in two Presidential administrations for childhood literacy and education affairs. His undergraduate studies were taken at Midland College in Nebraska; and, graduate studies have been undertaken at Westminster Choir College, Alverno College, Brigham Young University, and the University of Southern California. As a conductor Randy served as music director of the Cedar Rapids, IA Concert Chorale, the chorus for the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra, a Grammy Award winner. He continues to conduct choral camps, honor, and All-State Festival Choirs throughout the United States. His teaching background is broadly based, including work with toddlers, elementary, junior high, and high school children, physically handicapped, mentally handicapped, hearing impaired populations, and the aged. He is an active clinician and adjudicator in choral music education and developmental neuropyschology in music and learning, During his tenure at USC, he volunteered teaching time each Wednesday at Magnolia Elementary School, Los Angeles' largest elementary school in the heart of its urban cor. McChesney served on the Board of Directors of the Richards Institute of Education Through Music, Canada the Choristers Guild from 1993 — 99 serving as principal advisor for that organization's publishing and research into music, learning, and the very young child. He has presented workshops and papers for music education associations, medical conferences, and specialized education groups throughout the Unites States, Japan, Canada, Denmark, and New Zealand. Special symposia contributions include appearances at the 13th and 14th Symposia for the Care and Use of the Professional Voice, Music Education and the Handicapped, the Biology of Music Making Conference, the Australian Choral Association, the Center for Innovation in Learning (Math Their Way), and the New England Kindergarten Associations. His recent interests include the neurobiological implications of music study for all children, especially those who are behaviorally at risk and who present with varying degrees of attentional problems and functional illiteracy. His contribution to Stepping Stones, was released by the Choristers Guild in June, 1996. He was actively involved the editing and re-publication (2003) of Let's Do It Again!, an extensive compilation of song repertoire written by Mary Helen Richards, founder of Education Through Music and the Richards Institute. He conducted, edited and has just published Many Voices, One Song: The Music of Let's Do It Again! a 3-CD volume containing recordings of the extensive folk literature of Education Through Music; and, he continues publishing articles related to children's development and well-being through musical interaction and study. Richards Institute of Education Through Music Website (9/22/2006)

Home | About Us | Contact Us | Join Today | Our Catalog | News and Events ©Choristers Guild 2000-2006 Questions or comments about this website? Contact webmaster@choristersguild.org