Martha Swisher
	Title:	Music Instructor
	Office:	Mundelein 1202
	Phone:	773-508-8319
	E-mail:	mswisher@luc.edu

Personal Information

Martha Swisher, an expert in the field of vocal pedagogy, specializes in choral methods and solo vocal performance. She is conductor of the Michigan Avenue Cantori and performs throughout the Chicago Area. Ms. Swisher is currently choir director at Unity Temple in Oak Park. From 2002 - 2006 she served as adjunct faculty at DePaul University and conductor of the DePaul Community Chorus. Previously, Ms. Swisher was concert choir conductor and voice class instructor at College of DuPage. She has served as conductor of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company of Chicago's productions of Grand Duke, Ivanhoe, and Trial by Jury. With that company, she has prepared choruses for several G & S productions since 1987.

She maintains an active private teaching studio in the Fine Arts building downtown Chicago. Ms. Swisher is a sought-after guest clinician and adjudicator for choral and solo competitions throughout the United States.

For twenty- four years she has been on the conducting faculty of the Indian University Summer Music Clinics. In 1998 she received the Indiana University School of Music Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2001 Ms. Swisher conducted the Graduate College Chorus at the Vandercook College of Music. She has also served as guest conductor of Chicago Choral Artists, a professional vocal ensemble.

In 1995- 2001 she coordinated a community outreach program for the Ravinia Festival called the Illumination Ensemble. This past summer Ms. Swisher traveled to Haiti to conduct Les Petit Chanteurs, a young men and boy choir from the Port au Prince. Formerly the artistic director of the Jubilate Children's Choir and director of music for the Chicago Children's Choir, Ms. Swisher has been a featured conductor at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and Music Educators National Conference (MENC) conventions. She is scheduled to present a session in July at the ACDA summer retreat on the topic of Vocal Warm-ups for young voices.