The Singing Statesmen

The Singing Statesmen represent diverse academic disciplines with a common respect and admiration for choral music. The creed that is upheld by the membership is “Once a Statesmen, always a Statesmen!”  The Singing Statesmen are proud of their tradition of performing choral music representing repertoire from the Renaissance through the Contemporary Period.

"You're not accepted to sing at the ACDA National Convention unless you're an outstanding choir," said Joshua Andrew, a member of The Singing Statesmen and ACDA student chapter member. "This is an acknowledgment of the hard work invested by the membership and by the conductor."

The Singing Statesmen have represented UW-Eau Claire on five international concert tours in 1980, 1990, 1996, 2002 and 2006. The Statesmen toured Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in December 2005.

The Statesmen have released seven compact discs during their history.
• 25th Anniversary was released in 1993 featured repertoire from throughout the ensemble’s first 25 years.
• Musik was released in 1996.
• Volume ³ was released in 1998 during the Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration.
• 2002 European Tour was released in 2002
• At the Ball was released in 2003 as a musical tribute to the UW-Eau Claire Viennese Ball.
• An American Journey was released in 2004 as a musical salute to the United States of America.
• 2004 WMEA Convention was released in 2004
• A Testament was released in 2006

CD Order Form

Gary R. Schwartzhoff is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he conducts Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, The Singing Statesmen and teaches conducting. Schwartzhoff received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa and a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa. A recipient of the Helen Kemper Doctoral Fellowship Award, he received a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Conducting at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, where he studied conducting with Dr. Eph Ehly.

Schwartzhoff has been active throughout his professional career in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) where he served as President of the North Central Division from 1992-94. After previously serving at the state, divisional and national levels of the ACDA Repertoire and Standards Committee, Schwartzhoff was named the Male Chorus Chair for the state of Wisconsin for 2007-2008. In 2007 the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association (WCDA) named Schwartzhoff the Outstanding Church Musician in the state of Wisconsin. During his career, Schwartzhoff has presented choirs on twenty-two conventions before the state, divisional and national levels of ACDA and MENC. In 2008 he will present The Singing Statesmen at the MENC National Convention and at the ACDA North Central Divisional Convention, as well as, The Master Singers at the WCDA State Convention. In February 2009 Schwartzhoff will conduct the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Choral Festival in Washington, D.C.

Schwartzhoff is the artistic director and conductor for The Master Singers, a community chamber ensemble with membership from throughout the Greater Chippewa Valley. He serves as Director of Music at the First Congregational Church in Eau Claire, where he conducts the Chancel Choir. Schwartzhoff has served as guest conductor and adjudicator for numerous choral festivals throughout the United States and Canada. Gary is married to Nancy Schwartzhoff and they have two daughters, Jenifer Morgan (Jerry), and Rebecca Johnson (Andy), and grandson, Brady.