Patricia Kazarow

Patricia A. Kazarow, Professor of Music, joined the music faculty of Gustavus Adolphus College in 1984. In addition to conducting the Choir of Christ Chapel, she teaches the History of Western Music and Music of World Cultures courses as well as the First Term Seminar, "The Power of Music." She also serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Prairie Arts Chorale, a professional mixed ensemble of singers from Southwestern Minnesota. Dr. Kazarow holds the D.M.A. and M.M. degrees from the University of Michigan where she studied choral conducting with Lawrence Marsh and organ with Robert Glasgow and Robert Clark. She holds the B.A. degree in Music from Loretto Hights College where she studied choral conducting with George Lynn and piano with Kathleen Joiner. In addition to her work at the College, Dr. Kazarow often serves as clinician and workshop leader for various high school and church choirs.

Dr. Kazarow has had more than thirty years of professional experience as a church musician. Her publications include "Contemporary African Choral Art Music: An Intellectual Perspective" in Choral Journal, "'Aus Tiefer Not': Martin Luther's Psalmhymn" in The Diapason, and "Text and Context in Hildegard of Bingen's Ordo Virtutum" in Maps of Flesh and Light: The Religious Experiences of Medieval Woman Mystics, edited by Ulrike Wiethaus.

A frequent lecturer, her special interest is transformational music in cross cultural contexts. Her work with African intercultural music developed from a Fulbright Group Travel Seminar to Nigeria and Tanzania and her work with Jean Houston. She is currently researching and writing the book, Choral Conducting: Rehearsal Techniques.