Dr. Hooper is the Director of Choirs and Vocal Activities at Texas A&M University-Commerce where he conducts the Tenor and Bass Chorus, the Treble Chorus, the Chamber Singers and University Chorale while overseeing the master’s program in choral conducting and teaching undergraduate courses in conducting. Choirs under Dr. Hooper’s direction have performed in Carnegie Hall, the Moody Concert Hall, the Meyerson Symphony Center and the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the Dallas, TX Arts District as well as in various venues in Germany, Austria, England and France.
Dr. Hooper is an active composer, arranger and editor of choral music. His edition of the 17th century composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelink’s Psalm 100 is published with Carl Fisher. Original works by Dr. Hooper are published by MusicSpoke and arrangements by Dr. Hooper are published with Earthsongs publishing. He is also actively engaged in research and presented his research on the choral music of Anthony Burgess at the first International Anthony Burgess Foundation Symposium in Manchester, England; this research was later published.
Dr. Hooper earned degrees from Texas State University, Baylor University, and Louisiana State University. Prior to his position at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Dr. Hooper held similar positions at Tennessee Tech University, Georgia State University and taught high school choral music for eleven years in Texas. Dr. Hooper has been a teacher and conductor for over 34 years. About his appointment, Dr. Hooper states, “I have known of Ralph Stannard’s work with Plano Civic Chorus for many years and I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to continue this work with the fine singers of PCC. As the new Artistic Director and Conductor of Plano Civic Chorus, I look forward to building strong relationships with the chorus members, the PCC audience, the Plano artistic community, and the greater North Texas arts community. Through my leadership I hope to live out the mission of the chorus, enriching the North Texas community by performing great choral music with a dedication to offering fulfilling musical experiences to our audiences and our singers.”
