Talk:Riverside High School (New Jersey)

Latest comment: 10 years ago by Doc Rock

WRT notable alumni, my classmate Bob Summer, class of '59, would fit the bill, I think: Robert Summer Robert Summer, Professor Emeritus of Choral Conducting, teaches graduate and undergraduate courses. He served as Director of Choral Activities for 25 years, during which time he founded and directed the University's Madrigal Dinners. He also founded and directed The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay.

Summer prepared choruses for conductors Irwin Hoffman, Jahja Ling, Julius Rudel, Sir David Willcocks, Sir Neville Marriner, and Robert Shaw. He prepared The Master Chorale and USF Chamber Singers for Shaw's recording of the Mahler Symphony No. 8, and conducted The Bach Choir of London and The Master Chorale in performances at Westminster Cathedral in London and King's College Chapel in Cambridge.

Summer has been guest conductor on many occasions with The Florida Orchestra. In his 1990 Carnegie Hall debut, he conducted the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra and several U.S. choirs in Schubert's Mass in G Major.

Summer has received numerous awards including: the Helen D. Roberts Cultural Award 1987, the "Individual Artist for 1989" by The Hillsborough County Arts Council; an "Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award" in 1991; the Wayne Hugoboom Distinguished Service Award in 1993; the "Favorite Sons and Daughters Award" and a "Professor Excellence Award" in 1998; as well as the Distinguished Service Award from the Florida Board of Regents in 1998.

Summer served as president of the state ACDA, conducted Florida All-State choruses, and established a Florida Intercollegiate Choral Festival in 1989. In 2007 his book Choral Masterworks from Bach to Britten: Reflections of a Conductor was published.

Summer received degrees from Susquehanna University and Indiana University. cf., http://music.arts.usf.edu/content/templates/?a=1211&z=311 Doc Rock (talk) 15:39, 3 February 2014 (UTC)Reply