ACDA-MI Feature: Les Rowsey, 2022 Maynard Klein Award Winner

Les Rowsey

The 2022 Maynard Klein Award winner Les Rowsey received his BA in Music Education from Olivet (MI) College in 1977 and his MA in Choral Conducting from Western Michigan University in 1985. He continues to attend conventions, clinics, and workshops as he seeks to constantly improve his teaching, directing, and support of the Choral Art. He is a life member of The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and an MSVMA Emeritus member.

During Les’ teaching career his choirs, ensembles, and soloists received numerous first-division ratings at District and State Festivals. His groups appeared at various State and Divisional conferences and conventions on eight occasions, and the ChamberSingers were invited to perform at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival twenty-one times. An active member of the Michigan School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA), he adjudicated, served as District Manager, hosted numerous District and State events, and directed State Honors Choirs in 1991, 2000, 2001, and 2012. Les was honored with both Jenison Public Schools Teacher of the Year and State Board of Education Finalist for Michigan Teacher of the year in 1991-1992. He was named MSVMA Teacher of the Year in 2000, and in 2013 received the Western Michigan University Pioneer Music Educator Award for teaching excellence.

After a 40-year career in music education, the last 30 years in Jenison, he is currently putting his retirement “on hold” and enjoying the opportunity to work with the talented singers of Cornerstone University Women’s Chorus and various CU Chorale men, and the 68-voice West Michigan Community Chorale. Les sings in the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus with his wife Karen, and they co-manage a voice studio of close to 50 adults and school-age students in the Grandville, Byron Center, Jenison, Wyoming and Hudsonville school districts. Les and Karen have four adult children and three recently-born grandsons.