New Choir and Band Directors Take Music to a New Level
Buena Vista University boasts not only a beautiful view, but beautiful sounds through its choir and band programs.
Christopher Phalen named Director of Choral Activities
Chris Phalen, a Clear Lake native, sang in the prestigious Iowa High School Music Association All-State Choir as a senior, an experience that inspired him to seek a career in choral music. Following his graduation from the University of Northern Iowa, Phalen directed choral activities at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Junior High School.
From there, Phalen headed to Florida State University to embark on a three-year program to earn a Ph.D. in choral music education. He also served as Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Quincy, Fla.
As Phalen began wrapping up work on his dissertation, a return to family—and Iowa—beckoned.
Read more about BVU's new Director of Choral Activities here.
Sarah Fabian joins BVU as Director of Bands
Sarah Fabian comes to BVU from Fairfax, Va., where, since 2019, she has worked as a graduate fellow at George Mason University as she finishes her Ph.D. in music education. Before that, Fabian earned a bachelor’s degree in music education with a concentration in percussion from Townson University, then earned a master’s in music education from the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
She has an extensive history on the drum-and-bugle corps circuit in Drum Corps International. Fabian is currently on tour with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, a performance group within Drum Corps International.
Fabian plans to lend her talents and enthusiasm as a resource and clinician for area high school, middle school, and elementary school music programs.
Read more about BVU's new Director of Bands here.