Ralph Frederick Stannard
Artistic Director and Conductor

Ralph Frederick Stannard has been artistic director of the Plano Civic Chorus since 2000. He is also director of music at First Presbyterian Church of Richardson, where he directs both the adult and youth choirs. Mr. Stannard has also held positions at St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Irving, Munger Place United Methodist Church in Dallas, and Bethel Temple in Oak Cliff. After the retirement of his mentor, composer Simon Sargon, from Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Mr. Stannard was appointed choir director of the 75-voice Temple Emanu-El Choir, and has directed the choir in several programs of important Jewish music. For thirteen years Mr. Stannard served as conductor of special performances for the Dallas Symphony Chorus, conducting the chorus in a variety of special performances benefiting the Dallas Symphony Association. A lyric baritone, Mr. Stannard has performed in numerous area churches and in performances with the Dallas Opera Chorus, The Denton Bach Society and the Deep Ellum Opera Theater.

Mr. Stannard has conducted many great masterworks, including Mozart's Requiem, Handel's Messiah, Bach's Magnificat, Orff's Carmina Burana and most recently, Mendolssohn's Hymn of Praise.  In 2002 he made his formal conducting debut with the Plano Symphony Orchestra, conducting the chorus and orchestra in several operatic choruses by Verdi. In the chorus' many collaborations with the Plano Symphony, Mr. Stannard has prepared the chorus for performances of Beethoven's Ninth (The Choral Symphony) Verdi's Requiem, Orff's Carmina Burana, and for the orchestra's annual Christmas pops concerts. He has led several successful choir tours. In 2002 he directed the combined choirs of the First Presbyterian Church and the Plano Civic Chorus in concerts throughout the British Isles, and in 2005 he took a similar group to the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Austria.  

Mr. Stannard received his bachelor's degree in music theory and composition from the University of Texas, and his master's degree in instrumental education from the University of North Texas. He studied orchestral conducting with Kate Tamarkin (former Dallas Symphony Orchestra assistant conductor), and Robert Winslow. He has had extensive choral study with Frank McKinley, Henry Gibbons, and David R. Davidson.  Mr. Stannard is an active member of the Texas Choral Directors' Association and the American Choral Directors' Association.

For more information about the chorus,  contact Mr. Stannard.