Dr. Lori Hetzel
Dr. Lori Hetzel started her relationship with the Lexington Singers as the Assistant Director in 1997, and was appointed the Artistic Director of the Lexington Children's Choir and director of the Children's Chamber Choir in 2003.
Dr. Hetzel is the Associate Director of Choral Activities and professor of Choral Music Education at the University of Kentucky where she conducts the Women's Choir and the a cappella group "Paws and Listen." She also teaches graduate and undergraduate secondary methods courses and undergraduate conducting. In conjunction with the undergraduate choral methods courses, she has pioneered a unique partnership program with a local high school. As a result of this program the choral music eduation students at the University of Kentucky are receiving "hands on" experience and immediate feedback early in their curriculum. Among her many accomplishments, she was the recipient of the University of Kentucky award "Great Teacher of the Year" in 2000 and has published articles in College Music Symposium and Southeastern Music Education Journal. The UK Women's Choir has been invited to perform at both MENC and ACDA Southern Division Conventions, and in 2003 were featured at the ACDA National Convention in New York City.
A native of Wisconsin, Dr. Hetzel received her B.A. degree in Music Education, Summa cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. She received her M.M. degree from the University of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory, where she studied conducting with Eph Ehly. Her D.M.A. degree is in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University with Charles K. Smith. An active clinician and guest conductor, Dr. Hetzel has most recently appeared at music conferences in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia.