Paul D. Head

Biography

Dr. Paul D. Head celebrates 25 years as the distinguished named chair of choral studies at the University of Delaware this year. Choirs under his leadership have been recognized throughout the United States and Europe, appearing six times on national and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) while winning awards at international competitions in Spain, Hungary, Germany, and the prestigious Grand Prix Award in the Estonian Choral Competition. He has conducted honor choirs in 27 of the United States as well as those in several choirs in Great Britain and Europe. He also served as President of ACDA-Eastern Division.​

Also highly regarded as a pedagogue and author of several books, Dr. Head’s most notable contribution is his role as co-author and editor of the Oxford Handbook of Choral Pedagogy. Under Head’s leadership, the D​elaware Choral Scholars have enjoyed residencies with several organizations including the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, and Manhattan Productions in New York City. For six years, they served as the core ensemble of the Choral Conducting Symposium in Provence, France – an intensive program for aspiring choral directors from all over the United States.​

Prior to coming to Delaware, Dr. Head taught in the California public schools where his choirs received many awards, culminating in being named as state champions in the Golden State Choral Competition – a prestigious festival for the finest s​chool choirs in the state. He is the proud father of three grown children, two grandchildren, and resides in rural Pennsylvania with his wife and lovable dog named Charley.​​​