Artistic Director and Conductor
David Griggs-Janower
David Griggs-Janower, Albany Pro Musica's founding conductor, is Director of Choral Music and Professor at the University at Albany, State University of New York, where he has taught since 1981. Dr. Griggs-Janower did undergraduate and masters work in music theory and music history at Cornell University. He holds Master of Music and Doctor of Music degrees in conducting from the Indiana University School of Music where he studied with Dr. Julius Herford, Fiora Contino and Margaret Hillis. He has been on the faculties of Williams College, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Skidmore College, the Oregon Bach Festival (under Helmuth Rilling) and the Aspen Music Festival Choral Institute. He has served as musical director and guest director for many area groups including the Berkshire Bach Society in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
In August 2003 Dr. Griggs-Janower was named Outstanding Conductor of the Year by the NYS American Choral Directors Association. In 2002 he was the first recipient of the newly established faculty award for “Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activity” at the University at Albany. Several weeks later he was given a similar award from the State University of New York, having been chosen from among the faculty of all 64 campuses. Dr. Griggs-Janower was honored in 1999 with the Albany-Schenectady League of Arts Award for his outstanding contribution to the Capital Region community through the creation, presentation and support of the arts.
Active in the professional organizations of his field, Dr. Griggs-Janower currently serves on several committees within the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He is a frequent contributor to The Choral Journal where he writes on a diverse group of composers including Bach, Bruckner and Mendelssohn as well as American composers William Grant Still and George F. Bristow. He has appeared as conductor or clinician at seven ACDA conventions and two NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) summer conferences. With Albany Pro Musica and with his University Chamber Singers, Dr. Griggs-Janower has produced nine CD recordings and has led nine concert tours to Europe and Central America.