Randel Wagner earned his Doctorate of Music from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in voice performance and vocal pedagogy. A charismatic performer, he has sung in hundreds of performances, ranging in style from classical to Broadway.

After completing a Bachelor of Music Education at Walla Walla College, he taught choral and vocal music at the high school level in San Diego. Upon completing his Master of Arts in voice performance and choral conducting at San Diego State University, he taught at the college level in Texas and Nebraska.

Highlights of Dr. Wagner's singing career include an all-Czech concert in Washington, D.C. sponsored by the Czech Embassy; performances with San Francisco, Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane Opera companies; and numerous recitals across the United States, Europe and Asia. His awards include Regional Finalist, Metropolitan Opera Auditions; National Finalist, NATS Singer of the Year Competition; the Nicolai Gedda Award, Music Academy of the West; and the Fosseen/Kusaka Distinguished Professor Award. He has just returned from Japan, where he and three EWU students presented a series of concerts.

Dr. Wagner maintains a busy performing and conducting schedule. He was the director of the Northwest Bach Choir, the resident choral ensemble of the Northwest Bach Festival (which is under the artistic direction of Gunther Schuller). In the Spokane area Randel has appeared singing the role of Schaunard in Puccini's La Bohème and as a soloist in Bach's Cantata # 82 Ich habe genug under the direction of Gunther Schuller.

Dr. Wagner is very active as an adjudicator, clinician, and workshop presenter. He was the guest conductor of the Nebraska Honor Choir in 1999, the North Idaho Honor Choir in 2000, Byron Gjerde Memorial Choral Festival in Richland, Washington, and the Spokane Festival of the Arts High School Honor Choir. In the spring of this year he will direct the Washington State Catholic High School Honor Choir and the Bethel School District Honor Choral Festival.

The Eastern Washington University Chamber Singers under Dr. Wagner's direction was selected to perform at the All Northwest MENC Convention and concluded the 2001 school year with a 10-day performance tour of Italy. Last year the EWU Symphonic Choir performed the Mozart Requiem under Gunther Schuller's direction in the Northwest Bach Festival.

Prior to moving to Washington State Dr. Wagner was on the voice faculty at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland. He is presently Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Eastern Washington University where he directs the choirs, teaches applied voice, secondary choral methods, and choral conducting.