Dr. Richard A. Palmer, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, earned his doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Illinois in 1982. Palmer directs the Dana College Chorale, a group which has received honors locally and abroad. Dr. Palmer holds a B.F.A.E. from Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb., and a master’s of music and doctorate of musical arts from the University of Illinois—Champaign-Urbana. As conductor of the Dana College Chorale, Dr. Palmer has enjoyed an international reputation for choral excellence, as well as in the Midwest (Omaha World-Herald Top Ten Musical Events of 1997–98 and Honorable Mention in 1994–95 and again in 2002).

Dr. Palmer has also served as associate director of the Clarion Chamber Chorale for such projects as “Crying for a Dream,” Nils Lindberg’s “Requiem” for chorus and jazz ensemble, “Mass From All Time,” “Rise, Shine For Thy Light Has Come” with John Rutter and the ensemble’s appearance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City in 1997. This fall, Dr. Palmer was named the new artistic director for the Clarion Chamber Chorale.

In 1999, Dr. Palmer became director of music at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Omaha, where he oversees the music ministry program, conducts the Choir for Christ and founded the Nebraska Bach Festival, an annual celebration of the Lutheran musical heritage.

Dr. Palmer has served as president of the Nebraska Choral Directors’ Association and is a respected composer and arranger of choral music, including several commissioned works.

Dr. Richard Palmer
Professor of Music
rpalmer@dana.edu
402 426-7310
Office: MFAC 105