2024: DCS Takes new zealand!
The DELAWARE CHORAL SCHOLARS had a wildly successful experience at the 2024 WORLD CHOIR GAMES in Auckland, New Zealand. As of August 2024, the Delaware Choral Scholars are the HIGHEST RANKED CHOIR IN THE WORLD according to the Interkultur World Rankings. Read more about these rankings here!
The choir competed in four categories; Mixed Choir, Musica Sacra, Spirituals, and Contemporary Music—the last of which required a selection commissioned for a world premiere at the WORLD CHOIR GAMES. With these parameters in mind, the concert consisted of significant historical works by Schütz, Bruckner, Hogan, and Brahms, several selections from the Baltic countries, and more recent compositions by composers such as Thomas LaVoy, Arreon Harley-Emerson, Paul Mealor, Eric Whitacre, and Reena Esmail.
Paul D. Head, Director
Dr. Head serves as the Director of Choral Studies at the University of Delaware and is the founder and director of the Delaware Choral Scholars. He has conducted honor choirs and clinics throughout Europe, Asia and 29 of the 50 United States and is frequently sought out to adjudicate festivals and competitions throughout Asia, Europe, and North America. Choirs under his direction have won second and third place awards in Spain, Hungary, and Germany in addition to divisional first place at the Llangollen Eisteddfod and the Grand Prix at the Estonia International Choral Competition. He is a published author and editor with GIA and Oxford University Press and has led nearly two dozen international choral endeavors since he began teaching high school in 1987. He resides with his wife of 39 years in southeastern Pennsylvania, is the father of three grown children, and takes pride in his role of faithful walking companion to Charley the Dog.
Arreon A. Harley-Emerson, Associate Director
A conductor, composer, nonprofit strategist, and equity coach, Arreon A. Harley-Emerson is the CEO and Artistic Director of Elevate Vocal Arts and President and CEO of Equity Sings. Committed to the principles of equity and justice, Equity Sings assists organizations in remaining relevant in the 21st century. Harley-Emerson’s work includes longitudinal studies, strategic planning, board governance, resource and asset development, and board diversification. Mr. Harley-Emerson holds a Ph.D. in Music Education with a cognate in Choral Conducting from the Boyer College of Music Dance at Temple University, where he also completed a graduate certificate in Diversity in Higher Education. Dr. Harley-Emerson is also an adjunct professor of choral music at the University of Delaware, where he directs Resound Gospel Choir, a curricular choir dedicated to the performance of music from the Black Diaspora.
