UNM Alumni Association Awards

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Brad Ellingboe—Faculty Award

Okay. Be honest. How many of you ever thought of a chorus director as "fearless" or "brave?" That's how Brad Ellingboe's students think of him. And I'd say that's how he must be as he rehearses a group of students who are convinced they're "headed for a train wreck."

As professor of music and director of choral activities at UNM, Brad conducts the Concert Choir, University Chorus, and Las Cantantes, the women's ensemble. And, obviously, Brad knows something all those students don't. He knows their potential and how to elicit it from them.

"Brad's going to have to cancel," members of the University Chorus say, sotto voce. "But he looks happy!" they add, in amazement. And with each successful, rousing performance, it becomes evident that Brad not only knows what he's doing, he has the extraordinary talent to glean from them more than they know they can do.

Brad himself is a star in the choral universe. His Requiem for choir and orchestra and Revelations for choir, organ, brass, and timpani have been performed more than 100 times across the US. His two books of songs by Grieg so awed Norwegians-in-the-know that King Harald V of Norway bestowed upon Brad the Medal of Saint Olav—the equivalent to Norwegian knighthood. UNM named him a Regents Lecturer. And now Brad is becoming renowned in Italy as he has begun leading the chorus for the summer Tuscia Opera Festival in Viterbo, Italy—a chorus in which many UNM students will have the opportunity to sing.

And speaking of opportunities—Brad's choral students sang in Rome a year ago, and will sing in Carnegie Hall this spring. Brad also brings guest composers and conductors to UNM, enabling his students to broaden their musical horizons without leaving home.

All of this speaks to Brad's determination to make UNM one of the top choral schools in the country. His students gladly respond as he pushes them to perform harder music. "His ideas and plans make us happy, because we think he'll stay," says one.

University Choir comprises 140 non-auditioned singers from the community and the university. The choir fills by noon on the first day of registration at Continuing Ed. Beyond performing, the choir serves the purpose of bringing together town and gown. It also raises funds for choral scholarships. To date, three are fully endowed. Eventually, Brad hopes for 16, whose recipients will form the "University Chamber Singers," an elite ensemble—and a huge draw of talent to UNM.

"Brad believes and tells us that music is an experience for real people to have together," says a choir member. "We should give our audience something special but also get joy out of doing it."

We take joy now in offering Brad the Alumni Association's Faculty Award, for inspiring our students, heightening our choral program, and creating and sharing beautiful music.

Mary Conrad

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