Craig Zamer

Dr. Craig Zamer is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Tennessee Tech University where he directs the TTU Concert Choir and the Tennessee Tech University Chorale. Additionally, Dr. Zamer is also the artistic director of the Cookeville Mastersingers, an adult community choir. In addition, Dr. Zamer also teaches undergraduate courses in choral conducting, choral literature, and secondary choral methods. In 2009, he created the TTU Festival of Voices, Tennessee Tech University’s choral event which hosts approximately 350 high school students for a day-long choral event with a guest clinician.

Dr. Zamer received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Virginia Tech University. He also holds the M.M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in Music Education and Choral Conducting from The Florida State University. Before his graduate work he taught high school choral music at Stone Bridge High School in Loudoun County, Virginia.

In 2018 Dr. Zamer debuted in Carnegie Hall conducting choirs from Tennessee and Mississippi in a performance of Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo. His first association with Dan Forrest was in 2014 when he commissioned a new choral work, Lead Kindly Light. The Tech Chorale gave the world premiere performance with the composer at the piano. This performance can be found on Dan Forrest’s man website as well as on the TTUChoirs YouTube page. In 2023 Dr. Zamer conducted the combination of his TTU choirs and the Cookeville Mastersingers in the Tennessee Premiere of Elaine Hagenberg’s new multi-movement work, Illuminare, with Elaine Hagenberg in attendance.

Dr. Zamer has been an invited clinician, conductor, and adjudicator of SATB, Treble, TTBB and middle school choirs in over 10 US states. Dr. Zamer has also conducted his own choirs and festival choirs abroad throughout Great Britain, Eastern Europe, and China. Dr. Zamer has published articles in the National ACDA publication, The Choral Journal, and has published two choral compositions, Wayfarin’ Stranger and Love is Us, through Hinshaw Music. Dr. Zamer has been a long-time member of ACDA, has served in various capacities for Southern Region of ACDA, and is currently serving at President-Elect of Tennessee ACDA.

Dr. Zamer continues to be an active singer as a member of the Festival Singers of Florida where he also has the opportunity to conduct. Since 2021, Dr. Zamer has also been a performing member of the vocal ensemble, Vocal Arts Nashville.