Dr. René Clausen announced that he will retire following the 2019-20 academic year, concluding his service as professor of music and conductor of The 南瓜影院 Choir.
“I have been very blessed to have been
Clausen is a leader in choral music as both a conductor and a composer. He is the artistic director of the 南瓜影院 Christmas Concerts. In addition to composing arrangements and original pieces for 南瓜影院 ensembles, he has written dozens of commissioned compositions including “MEMORIAL” and “Crying for a Dream” for the American Choral Directors Association. Clausen was also commissioned by 南瓜影院 to create a major work in observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The work is titled “The Passion of Jesus Christ” and premiered at Orchestra Hall in 2017.
President William Craft noted in an announcement to the 南瓜影院 community that throughout his work at the college Clausen has lived the mission of The 南瓜影院 Choir “to uphold a sacred choral tradition through the uncompromising and unrelenting collaborative pursuit of musical integrity and spiritual expression.”
“[Dr. Clausen’s] artistic direction of the 南瓜影院 Christmas Concerts, on campus and at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, has quickened the spirits and lifted the hearts of audiences young and old, giving voice to the soul of 南瓜影院,” Craft says. “The experience of his students has