About the Conductor

Dr. Grant W. Cook III

Dr. Grant W. Cook III, Associate Professor of Choral Music and Music History at Heidelberg College, directs the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers and teaches beginning and advanced conducting and music history. He holds a bachelor of music degree in vocal pedagogy from Heidelberg College (Class of ’89) and a master of music degree in choral conducting and doctor of philosophy degree in historical musicology/ethnomusicology, both from Kent State University.  Choirs under Dr. Cook’s direction have appeared in concert at state and regional meetings of the American Choral Directors Association and Music Educators National Conference.  In addition, he is active as a guest conductor and clinician for a variety of choral events throughout Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania.  Dr. Cook holds memberships with the American Musicological Society, American Beethoven Society, American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference and The Honor Society of Pi Kappa Lambda.

His published research focuses on the American Beethoven scholar Alexander Wheelock Thayer (1817-1897), the first complete performance in America of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and the Viennese court singer and conductor Ignaz Karl Dirzka (1779-1827).  Dr. Cook was a recipient of the 2002 and 2003 Aigler Faculty Research Grant (Heidelberg College), and, in June 2002, completed a one-week residency with the Chor und Orchester von St. Augustin (Vienna, Austria), culminating in performances of Mozart’s Requiem and Missa brevis in C under the direction of Mag. Alois Glaßner, Kirchenmusikdirektor.

Dr. Cook is also a recipient of Kent State University’s Young Alumni Achievement Award and was nominated by his students for inclusion in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He recently completed a two-year term as treasurer of the Ohio Choral Directors Association and is currently serving on the National Research and Publications Committee of the American Choral Directors Association.

The Accompanist

Jacqueline Nielsen

Jacqueline Nielsen is an elementary music specialist for the Benton-Carroll-Salem Local School District in Oak Harbor, Ohio. Miss Nielsen holds certification in Pathwise, Ohio F.I.R.S.T., and is active as a Praxis III Assessor for the Ohio Department of Education. Her honors include Alpha Lambda Delta Academic Honor Society, Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society, Tau Mu Sigma Music Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, Who's Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges, Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who Among America's Teachers, and Who's Who Among Emerging Leaders.
Nielsen is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, where she was featured as the June 2004 National General Music Mentor, and the Ohio Music Education Association, where she holds the position of District II President. She also holds membership in the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (Greater Cleveland Chapter). Nielsen is a past participant on the TRIAD Editorial Board and is immediate past chair of the Ohio Society for General Music. In addition, she is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and the Ohio Choral Directors Association, where she has served the latter as treasurer. Furthermore, as a member of the National Education Association and Ohio Education Association, Miss Nielsen is Immediate Past President of the Oak Harbor Education Association.
Jacqueline holds degrees in Music Education from Heidelberg College (2000) and Bowling Green State University (2004). She also holds Level I and II Orff Certification from Cleveland State University (2005 and 2006).