UWF Dr. Grier Williams School of Music presents the UWF Singers in concert

The University of West Florida Dr. Grier Williams School of Music will present the UWF Singers and the UWF Concert Choir in their “A Musical Journey” concert. The performance will be held on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rolfs Music Hall at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the UWF Pensacola campus.

Throughout this performance, the UWF Singers and the UWF Concert Choir will present a variety of pieces that explore different aspects of the human experience. With Dr. Steenblik on sabbatical, the choirs will be under the direction of Dr. Carol Krueger and Mr. Alex Gartner. Guests will enjoy a repertoire ranging from historical works, including a sacred medieval chant composed by Hildegard von Bingin, to beloved modern classics, including a revered American folk spiritual, “Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal,” and the Christian hymn, “Amazing Grace.” The group will be accompanied by UWF student cellist Logan Perez.

Dr. Krueger formerly served as the director of choral activities at Valdosta State University, Emporia State University and Florida Southern College. She also served as the associate director of choral activities at the University of South Carolina and the University of Montevallo. A native of Wisconsin, Krueger received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and both an M.M. and D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from the University of Miami.

An active clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor, Krueger has most recently conducted festivals and honor choirs at the collegiate, high school and middle school levels in Maryland, Arkansas, South Dakota, North Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Kansas, New York, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Washington, Georgia, South Carolina, North Dakota, Indiana and Kentucky. In addition, Dr. Krueger served as the guest conductor of the North-North Central ACDA Middle School Treble Choir (Milwaukee, 2020) of Vivaldi’s “Gloria” in Carnegie Hall (2010), the Adult Chancel Choir and Chamber Singers at Montreat Presbyterian Association of Musicians Conference (2010), and multiple performances of Epcot’s Candlelight Processional and Massed Choir Program (2005). Krueger is also widely recognized for her work with music literacy. Oxford University Press publishes her book, “Progressive Sight Singing.”

Alex Gartner is an educator, conductor and composer based in Pensacola, Florida. He serves as the artistic and executive director of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus, where he oversees nine resident choirs and five regional choirs comprised of nearly 300 singers. Combined, these programs reach an audience of 25,000 individuals, including 5,000 youth, throughout Northwest Florida.

Gartner is an active clinician, workshop presenter and guest conductor. He has served in leadership positions with the American Choral Directors Association and Americans for the Arts, and his choirs are active throughout Northwest Florida, the United States and the world. An accomplished composer, his arrangements are available through Santa Barbara Music Publishing, the Lorenz Corporation, Choristers Guild, Alfred Music Publishing and MusicSpoke.

This event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. For tickets or more information, visit uwf.edu/cfpa or call the CFPA box office at 850.857.6285.