Dr. Greg Zielke is Professor of Music and Director of the Music Program at Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska.  He began teaching at Grace University in 1991.  He directs the Grace Chorale, the Masterworks Chorus, and the Women’s Choir.  In addition, he teaches conducting, choral methods, church music, and private voice.  Under his direction, Grace choirs have performed across America and taken concert tours to Australia and Europe.  The latest tour to Australia came in 2008.  They have also performed with Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum, the Clarion Chorale, the Omaha Municipal Orchestra and the Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra.  Grace University choirs under Dr. Zielke’s direction have performed the Faure Requiem, Amahl and the Night Visitors, the Mozart Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Vivaldi Gloria, the Rutter Gloria and Requiem, and Messiah by Handel.

Dr. Zielke has been conductor and Artistic Director for the Omaha Symphonic Chorus since their 2002-03 concert season.  The annual Christmas at the Cathedral has become a favorite of audiences.  Christmas at the Cathedral is OSC’s signature event and is now in its 12th edition.  Dr. Zielke has conducted performances with OSC and the Omaha Symphony Chamber Orchestra of Haydn’s Mass in Time of War, the Poulenc Gloria, Mozart Missa Brevis, andthe Vivaldi Gloria.  He has prepared the chorus for performances with the Omaha Symphony of Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem for conductor Dr. Steven Zielke, Mass in B minor by Bach and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis for Maestro Victor Yamplosky, Carmina Burana, Those Glorious Hollywood Musicals with conductor Jack Everly, and Porgy and Bess: Concert Version with Maestro Thomas Wilkins and Chorusmaster David Batter.

As Artistic Director and Conductor of the Voices of Omaha, Dr. Zielke conducted 14 performances of Handel’s Messiah.

Dr. Zielke received the Bachelor of Arts in Music Education (BA) from Tabor College, the Master of Music Education (MME) from Wichita State University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting (DMA) from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC).  His conducting teachers included Dr. Harrison Boughton and Dr. Eph Ehly. His master classes were with Rene Clausen and Dale Warland.

He is a member of Chorus America, the American Choral Director’s Association, the National Collegiate Choral Organization, MENC and NMEA.

He served on the Steering Committee for the 2006 Convention of the North Central Division—ACDA.  In this position he worked with Craig Hella Johnson in preparing the Peace Event held during the 2006 Divisional Convention in Omaha.

In his role as church musician, Dr. Zielke enjoys conducting choral festivals and leading workshops on music and worship.  He serves as Director of Music and Worship at Community Bible Church in Omaha.  He also serves as chair of the Repertoire & Standards Committee for Music and Worship for the Nebraska ACDA.  He recently organized the 5th Annual Nebraska-ACDA Church Choir Festival to benefit the Open Door Mission of Omaha.  He is also the guest conductor for the Homestead Choral Festival in April of 2008.

Dr. Zielke’s two college age daughters are active with choral music and music theatre.  His wife Tamara is an elementary music specialist for Millard Public Schools.

©2008 Omaha Symphonic Chorus