Richard Waters, D.M.A.
Director of Choral Activities
Dr. Richard Waters is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Delta State University, where he directs the university's three choral ensembles and teaches courses in conducting and choral methods. He received the Bachelor of Music degree in music education from James Madison University, the Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the Hartt School of Music, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has studied conducting with William Carroll, Welborn Young, Richard Coffey, Michael Yachanin, and David Watkins, and has conducted in master classes led by Rodney Eichenberger and Dennis Keene.
Dr. Waters received the 2008 DSU Foundation Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Choirs under his direction have performed in several notable national and international venues, including Carnegie Hall (NYC), Washington National Cathedral (DC), York Minster, Christ Church Cathedral (Oxford), St. Bride's Church (London), Kollegienkirche (Salzburg), Karlskirche (Vienna), and St. Nicholas Church (Prague). In 2010, the DSU Chorale performed at the ACDA Southern Division Conference in Memphis; in 2007, they performed at the Mississippi ACDA / MMEA state convention in Jackson. His article on the carol settings of Harold Darke was published in the October 2007 edition of Choral Journal, the national monthly journal of ACDA. Dr. Waters is President-Elect of Mississippi ACDA and is past R&S chair for College & University Choirs. In addition to his university responsibilities, he is Director of Music at First United Methodist Church in Cleveland and Artistic Director of The Mississippi Chorus in Jackson.
Prior to his arrival at Delta State in 2003, Dr. Waters directed the UNCG Men's Glee Club, taught class voice, and served as the Assistant Conductor of the Choral Society of Greensboro. He taught high school and middle school choir in the Virginia public school system for four years and was Assistant Director of Cantate: The Children's and Youth Choir of Central Virginia. While in Hartford, he sang in CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Artists), the region's first all-professional choir. A native of Virginia, Dr. Waters began singing as a treble in the All Saints Choir of Men and Boys in Richmond.
Dr. Waters maintains an active schedule as an adjudicator, clinician, and composer. His compositions are published by Colla Voce Music and Santa Barbara Music. He holds memberships in ACDA, ASCAP, Chorus America, College Music Society, MENC, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Pi Kappa Lambda.
Director of Choral Activities
Delta State University
DSU Box 3256
Cleveland, MS 38733
(662) 846-4115