A choral director whose choir has performed for the United States president, has been named to the lead faculty position at the University of Mobile Center for Performing Arts, according to center director Roger Breland.
Al Miller, minister of music at Grace Church, PCA in Peoria, Ill., will assume the position of senior academic fellow and assistant professor of music at the center of performing arts on Aug. 1.
During the mid 1980s, Miller was founder and director of the Samford Singers, a 12-member vocal group which recruited for Samford University and toured throughout the United States and abroad.
Miller has served as minister of music at several evangelical churches, including First Baptist Church in Quincy, Fla.
“Al has the academic background and the experience to lead us in adding new musical styles while also maintaining our classical music education,” Breland said.
“He is a seasoned conductor of orchestra and choir, has experience as a professional musician in both orchestral and contemporary Christian settings,” Breland continued. “He brings a broad base of musical skills to the University of Mobile.”
That ability to bridge classical and contemporary styles will be a key component as the Center for Performing Arts focuses on its goal of becoming the preferred provider of Christian musicians for evangelical churches in the United States, according to Breland.
Miller received a bachelor of music from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, a master of music from Samford University and a Ph.D. from Florida State University.
Since 1993 he served as minister of music at Grace Church, coordinating a 500-member volunteer music ministry comprising 20 vocal and instrumental ensembles.
His 16-member Grace Singers performed the opening and closing pieces during the Presidential Prayer Breakfast with President George W. Bush in February. (UM)
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