Dr. Julian Ackerley
Director, Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus
Director
of the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus since 1980, Julian Ackerley has
achieved national and international acclaim as an accomplished
conductor and administrator of children’s choral performing
arts organizations. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree
from the University of Arizona with special emphasis in music education,
vocal performance and choral conducting. His many successes include
national and international tours, numerous critically acclaimed recordings,
collaborations with national symphony orchestras and opera companies
and increased fiscal stability for the Chorus. He is an experienced
teacher having taught at all levels, elementary to college, prior
to his appointment with the Boys Chorus.
In addition to serving as director of the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, Dr. Ackerley has also been the Associate Conductor of the International
Children’s Festival Chorus and Conductor of the American
Youth Choir, a national honor choir of both boy and girl singers.
As AYC conductor from its inception in 1999, Dr. Ackerley has conducted
in international festivals in China, Mexico, South America and
Europe. He is currently vice president of the International Society
for Children’s Choral and Performing Arts (ISCCPA), a board
member for The Alliance For Arts and Understanding (AFAU) which
is the umbrella organization for the AmericaFest Festivals, and
is the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Repertoire
and Standards Chair for boychoirs in the state of Arizona. Other
professional affiliations include the Music Educators National
Conference (MENC) and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity.
Dr. Ackerley often serves as a clinician
and guest conductor. Most recently he was the conductor clinician
at the 5th Biennial Boychoir
and Young Men’s Festival in Salem, Oregon and at the Children’s
Universal Music Festival in Fort Worth, Texas. He also served as
an invited clinician for the Conductor’s Symposium at AmericaFest,
the internationally renowned festival held at St. John’s University
in Minnesota.
Under Dr. Ackerley’s direction, the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus
has flourished. He instills in his singers the importance of their
responsibilities, the tradition they follow and the fine young men
they are. The performances showcase the power of his comprehensive
music program, administered with a caring hand while demanding the
highest level of musicianship and discipline. Dr. Ackerley’s
dedication to artistic quality and the well being of his choristers
has been key in building the reputation of the Tucson Arizona Boys
Chorus.
In addition to serving as director of the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, Dr. Ackerley has also been the Associate Conductor of the International
Children’s Festival Chorus and Conductor of the American
Youth Choir, a national honor choir of both boy and girl singers.
As AYC conductor from its inception in 1999, Dr. Ackerley has conducted
in international festivals in China, Mexico, South America and
Europe. He is currently vice president of the International Society
for Children’s Choral and Performing Arts (ISCCPA), a board
member for The Alliance For Arts and Understanding (AFAU) which
is the umbrella organization for the AmericaFest Festivals, and
is the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Repertoire
and Standards Chair for boychoirs in the state of Arizona. Other
professional affiliations include the Music Educators National
Conference (MENC) and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity.
