by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service
Baylor University, Waco, Texas, named Anton Armstrong, conductor
of the famed St. Olaf Choir, recipient of its 2006 Robert Foster
Cherry Award for Great Teaching -- the single largest award given
in the United States to an individual for teaching excellence.
Armstrong, Harry R. and Thora H. Tosdal professor of music at St.
Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., and a 1978 alumnus, will receive
$200,000; and an additional $25,000 will be awarded to the St.
Olaf College Music Department.
"The committee reviewed 86 completed nominations that represented
68 colleges and universities and 46 disciplines," said Cherry
Award selection committee chair Heidi Hornik, Baylor University
professor of art history. "Although the three finalists were all
extremely strong, the committee selected Dr. Armstrong by a large
majority." Armstrong will teach in residence at Baylor during the
2007 spring semester and first summer session.
Armstrong holds a bachelor of music degree in vocal performance
from St. Olaf College, one of 28 colleges and universities of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a master's degree in
choral music from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign,
and a doctorate in choral conducting from Michigan State
University, East Lansing. He returned to teach at St. Olaf
College in 1990 after serving on the faculty at Calvin College,
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Web sites:
Baylor University: http://www.baylor.edu/
Anton Armstrong:
http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/music/stolaf_choir/conductor.html
St. Olaf Choir: http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/music/stolaf_choir/
2006 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching:
http://www.baylor.edu/cherry_awards/
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.: http://www.stolaf.edu/
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign: http://www.uiuc.edu/
Michigan State University, East Lansing: http://www.msu.edu/
Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich.: http://www.calvin.edu/
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
