Allan Hawkins

Adjunct Professor of Music


Degrees

M.S. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
B.S. Gustavus Adolphus College

Biography

Al Hawkins, has been involved in music as a performer, conductor, and teacher for over 25 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in instrumental and vocal music education from Gustavus Adolphus College and a Master of Science degree in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His teaching experience includes vocal and instrumental music for grades K-12 as well as community and church work with adults. He has held positions at Armstrong High School in Robbinsdale, MN, and similar positions in Ceylon and Gaylord, Minnesota, Lafayette, Indiana, and fourteen years in New Ulm, Minnesota. Choirs under his direction have performed for conventions of the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA), and the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP). They have also toured throughout the United States and Central Europe. In addition to his duties at the high school level, he has been active as conductor and singer with several adult semi-professional choral ensembles including the Sibley County Choral Society, the Al Zinter Chorale, the Minnesota Valley Chorale, Nova Cantabile, and most recently Deo Cantamus. Currently he teaches voice privately and is on the adjunct faculty for Crown College where he also teaches Music Fundamentals and works with music education students. He and his wife, Kay, live in Plymouth, have three children and seven grandchildren.

Testimony

"...God has blessed us in so many ways. It is my greatest joy to use the gifts and circumstances He has provided to further glorify Him. To use music as a tool for teaching and encouraging holiness is what I enjoy doing most. This takes a commitment to high standards that is often absent in the music that contemporary society promotes. It is my goal to teach and conduct in a way that encourages individuals to pursue the standards needed to perfom at a level that inspires others and glorifies God..."

Favorite Verse?

Philippians's 4: 6-7 I Thessalonians 4: 11-12

Affiliations

Mr. Hawkins and his wife are members of Fourth Baptist Church in Plymouth, MN. He is a member of MMEA, MMTA, and has served as Southwest District Chair, President-Elect, President, and Vice-President for ACDA of Minnesota.

Awards

199 recipient of Plymouth Music Series of Minnesota & American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota Award for Creative Programming. Selected to perform with the New Ulm High School Concert Choir at the 1989 Minnesota Music Educators (MMEA) mid-winter clinic and again with the Payne Street Singers in February, 1992. Invited to perform with the Concert Choir and Payne Street Singers for the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) in February, 1992 and with The Payne Street Singers for the Minnesota School Boards Association in January, 1993. Selected to perform as Honor Choir at Gustavus Choir Festival in March, 1994 and at the Dorian Invitational Choral Festival at Luther College in April of 1996. The Concert Choir & Payne Street Singers were again selected to perform for the MMEA Convention in February of 1998 and at the 1998 Fall State Convention for ACDA of Minnesota. Selected to perform with the Armstrong High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers for the 2001 MASSP, MASB, and MMEA Conventions.

Publications

Founder and artistic director for "Deo Cantamus", a music ministry organization. Currently in its third season, activities include two major programs annually, along with an auditioned children's honor choir. More information available at www.DeoCantamus.org. Organized and conducted performance and festival tours throughout Minnesota and to Winnipeg, Colorado, Chicago, and New York City. In June of 1999 organized and conducted a fourteen day tour to Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Conducted eleven day tour of Austria and Poland in March and April of 2000. Founder/member/artistic director of "Nova Cantabile", an ensemble of eight singers from south central Minnesota. Performances have been given throughout south central Minnesota as well as guest appearances at ACDA and MMEA conventions. Music director/conductor of the Minnesota Valley Chorale from September 1985 to January 1989. Performances included Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi, Fanfares by Daniel Pinkham, Canticles of America by John Rutter, Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein, Mass in B Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach, Mass in G by Franz Schubert, the world premiere of Missa Brevis by Carl Kittelson, and numerous shorter works.