From a young age, Syracuse University professor John Warren watched his father conduct choirs. He was encouraged to forge his own path, but in the end, he followed his father’s footsteps.

Many years later, his musical upbringing has paid off in many ways. In August, Warren was recognized as the recipient of the 2016 New York Choral Director of the Year from the New York American Choral Directors Association  or NYACDA.

“Obviously, this is incredibly gratifying to be recognized by my peers,” Warren said. He is the director for SU’s University Singers and Oratorio Society, an associate professor of music in College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Setnor School of Music and the university’s director of choral activities.

“To be chosen for this award by other choral directors throughout the state is very, very gratifying and fulfilling,” he added.

Moriah Ratner | Staff Photographer

The way Warren got to this point may be because of his father’s hands-off nature, he said, which allowed him to grow as a person and find his own passions.

While Warren’s two siblings took their own paths — one becoming an accounting professor and the other a nurse — Warren went on to continue the family legacy.

“We were all musically active, and I just loved it,” Warren said. “As I grew with different school groups and community groups, I loved it so much that I wanted to try leading it.”

He said that although his father, Jerry, valued music and made him and his two sisters play instruments in their youth, there was never an obligation or even an expectation for any of the kids to enter the field as a profession.

“I believe that if he had pushed me or tried to teach me or anything like that, I doubt I would be here,” Warren said. “Because he gave me the freedom to find my own love for it, so that’s why I’m here.”

The New York Choral Conductor of the Year award did not randomly appear on Warren’s desk one morning. Instead, two students led the charge to give Warren the recognition they thought he deserved, and soon Warren received a call from the president of the New York American Choral Directors Association.

One former student who spearheaded Warren’s nomination was Thomas Lerew, who went on to pursue a doctorate of musical arts at the University of Arizona after completing his master’s of music in choral conducting at SU in 2013.

Lerew said he learned about the award when he was scouring the New York American Choral Directors Association website. He later wrote a lengthy letter to the president of the organization and recommended that Warren be considered for the award. Lerew was convinced that his former professor and peer was best suited for the award.

With the help of some friends and Warren’s colleagues themselves,  Lerew raised interest and spread the word.

Jose Calvar, an assistant professor of applied music and performance in the Setnor School, said Warren’s role as a leader extends far outside of the classroom and even the auditorium.

“He’s very much a family man,” Calvar said. “To me, I feel like our circle of colleagues in the choral department are family to one another — and he is the anchor in that family.”

Like Warren, Calvar teaches and also serves as the assistant director of choral activities. He said concert days are hectic, but during preparation time, Warren is “incredibly focused yet incredibly relaxed.”

“I’m kind of a fiery and passionate guy, especially in front of an ensemble,” said Calvar. “And (Warren) has sort of showed me how to temper that some, but still maintain the degree of intensity necessary to get the job done efficiently.”

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Warren has been at SU since 2005, and Calvar said Warren’s former students are finally taking on larger roles and realizing Warren’s residual impact on them. Lerew, the student who nominated Warren, now works as an assistant professor of music and the director of choral activities at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Warren said some of his best moments in the past years have occurred during international performance trips.

In May, Warren led the University Singers to Varna, Bulgaria to qualify for the European Grand Prix, an elite choral competition that only six groups were invited to attend.

On trips like these, the group performs the same set multiple times, and Warren said that as the singers become more in-tune, so do their personalities.

“… The student group really grows together socially, so it’s a beautiful thing to see that side of the cohesiveness,” Warren said. “My choirs always change by going away together like that. It’s a beautiful thing musically and personally.”

NYACDA President Norman Zogaib said that Lerew and another of Warren’s former students gloated about the conductor’s “constant professionalism” in his teaching, conducting and involvement with his students.

It’s been more than five years since the New York Choral Director of the Year award was last given out, Zogaib said. But after Lerew and the other former student testified on behalf of Warren’s credentials, it was a fairly easy decision for Zogaib.

“Obviously, John’s resume alone would give him the award,” said Zogaib, “but you can’t just give an award (to him) if he’s not nominated and two former students were kind enough to write glowing letters of support.”

As a professor, mentor and conductor, Warren said he believes there is no better feeling than having the power to positively impact the lives of so many students.

“(My favorite part) is building relationships with the students and seeing the growth of so many wonderful students — having the chance to get to know them well and help them grow,” Warren said.

Published on September 7, 2016 at 8:29 pm

Contact Kenneth: kmintz@syr.edu