After an extensive national search, the Fort Worth-based Texas Boys Choir announces Brian Stratton as the new Artistic Director. He is only the fifth Artistic Director in the choir’s 60 year history. Brian makes his first public appearance with the choir at a free concert, A Tribute to America, in honor of our country and our troops abroad on September 30, 2006 inside the Amon Carter Museum at 2:00 pm. The concert is in association with the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County’s A Day in the District.
Brian M. Stratton, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, received his Bachelor of Music degree in vocal and instrumental music performance from Loyola University of New Orleans. Since graduating in 1989, Mr. Stratton has enjoyed a highly successful career as an active concert artist and music educator. He served on the staff of the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, the vocal faculty of Delgado Community College, and was a certified evaluator of Gifted and Talented children in the state of Louisiana. In 1988, he was a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions and has performed opera, concert recitals, Broadway revues and oratorio in the United States and abroad. He has appeared at the White House on four occasions, performing American folk music, Broadway tunes, Christmas music, and Spirituals for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and William Clinton.
For nearly 22 years, Mr. Stratton was a member and featured soloist with the acclaimed Moses Hogan Chorale and Singers. His concert performances and over a dozen recordings have received worldwide acclaim. Additionally, Mr. Stratton sang on the CD “Voices” on the Windham Hill label, and with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on their CD “An American Heritage of Spirituals.” Before Mr. Hogan’s untimely passing in 2003, Mr. Stratton was asked to conduct the last concert appearance of the Moses Hogan Singers at Calvin College in October 2002. Since then, he has worked to promote the Spiritual arrangements of Mr. Hogan and other renowned composers and arrangers in workshops, seminars, and choral clinics around the world. Mr. Stratton has served as a choral clinician and conductor for choirs in Oregon, Michigan, Georgia, Louisiana, Alaska,Texas, Indiana, and New York. In 2004, Mr. Stratton was one of only two clinicians from the United States at the World Projects-International Australian Music Festival held in Sydney and Bathurst, Australia. He has also conducted vocal workshops in France, Estonia, and Russia.
An enthusiastic promoter of music education, Mr. Stratton devotes his time not only to music education, but also enthusiastically encourages arts education for children around the nation. Mr. Stratton is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, The International Reed Organ Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc., serving as Province Governor for the State of Louisiana. Presently, Mr. Stratton is Director of the Traditional Choir, Holy Family Catholic Church, in Fort Worth, TX. Most recently, he was Director of Choral Music at South Hills High School, Fort Worth.
For the past 60 years, Texas Boys Choir has been a publicly supported 501©3 professional organization and educational institution dedicated to fostering the talents of gifted young men. The choir performs locally, nationally and internationally, both for fees and for community service purposes.
