Randi Von
Ellefson is the new Director of Choral Activities at Oklahoma City University.
His OCU appointment runs concurrently with his appointment as Artistic Director
of Canterbury Choral Society.
He holds the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education and Church Music from
Texas Lutheran University, a Master of Fine Arts degree in conducting from the
University of Minnesota, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral music
from Arizona State University. Dr. Ellefson has taught choral music at the
university level since 1977, serving on the faculties of Bethany Lutheran
College (Minn.), Whitworth College (Wash.), and the University of Chicago. He is
past artistic director of the Elgin Choral Union (Ill.) and the Spokane Symphony
Chorale (Wash.). He was a founding member of Spokane Opera Company, was resident
conductor from 1989 until 1996, frequently conducted the Spokane Symphony
Orchestra, and was Director of Music at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.
Dr. Ellefson has guest conducted at the Hochschule fur Musik in Munich,
Germany and taught at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He is past
president of the Northwestern and Central Divisions of the American Choral
Directors Association (ACDA) and served in leadership roles in the Music
Educators National Conference (MENC) and the National Association of Teachers of
Singing (NATS).
He conducted two recordings of the University of Chicago's Rockefeller Chapel
Choir for Arsis Audio of Boston: "20th Century German Sacred Music" and "Music
of Lamentation and Exultation" featuring works by Distler, David, Baumann,
Herbolsheimer, Pinkham, Lassus, Hoffman, Ginastera, Starer, Berger and
Palestrina. He also conducted the Rockefeller Choir at the national convention
of the ACDA in New York City.
Dr. Ellefson has conducted several all-state choirs, organized choral
workshops, served as adjudicator at national choral competitions and led choirs
in national and international tours in Europe, Asia, Australia and Russia
