Faculty Profile for Dr. Jonathan Babcock

Biography Section

Biography and Education

Jonathan Babcock is in demand as a conductor, educator and clinician internationally. He has been privileged to work with such artists as Richard Tucker Award winner Stephanie Blythe, and Tony Award winner Victoria Clark, in highly esteemed venues such as Carnegie Hall, New York City; The Forbidden City Concert Hall, Beijing, China and The St. Thomas Church, Leipzig, Germany. He has lead performances at American Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association and New York State School Music Association conventions. Working as an advocate for contemporary choral music, he has overseen the commissioning of new works by composers such as Paul Moravec, David Del Tredici, John Conahan and Stephen Paulus.

Dr. Babcock is an Associate Professor at Texas State University where he conducts the Texas State University Singers and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in choral conducting, literature and pedagogy. Prior to coming to Texas State, Babcock served as Associate Professor at the Conservatory of Music, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.
Performance highlights include the choral theater work The Greatest Generation THE BEATS featuring the world premiere of John Conahan’s setting of the epic Allen Ginsburg poem Howl; a performance tour of China featuring a performance of the Mozart Requiem in the Forbidden City Concert Hall, Beijing; a performance tour of Germany and the Czech Republic in celebration of the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther’s theses; a fully staged performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and an interactive, multimedia concert celebrating the music of the Republic of Georgia.
In 2011 Babcock traveled to the Republic of Georgia on a Research Enhancement Grant to study their vast musical heritage and learn the traditions of this ancient musical culture. In December 2013 Babcock travelled to Tel Aviv, Israel as an artist-in-residence at Lehman College of Education at Tel Aviv University. In January of 2014 he presented a workshop on choral techniques for instrumental conductors for the National Convention of the Collegiate Orchestra Directors Association, and in 2015 he presented “Less is More: Optimizing Your Conducting Technique” at the Texas Music Educators Association convention. In addition to performing and lecturing, Babcock has contributed several articles to the American Choral Journal on Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana; as well as the last interview with the late Maestro Richard Westenburg.
Babcock’s 2017-18 season will include a presentation at the 2017 New York State School Music Association Winter Conference, and appearing as featured artist at the West Valley College Annual Invitational Choral Festival, San Jose, California. Texas State University Singers repertoire includes Russell Schulz’ Requiem, the premiere performance of Roger Henry’s Remembrance, and Debussy’s Trois Chanson de Charles d’Orleans.

Babcock received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam where he studied conducting with the late Brock McElheran and voice with Patricia Misslin; and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Hartt School, University of Hartford where he studied conducting with Paul E. Oakley and Edward Bolkovac.

Teaching Interests

Conducting Technique

Research Interests

Folk Music of the Republic of Georgia, Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana," conducting technique