In Memoriam

Dr. Lauren Fowler-Calisto was Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at William Paterson University. She served as Director of the Honors Music Track, conducted the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, and taught courses in conducting, music education, and research methods. Prior to 2016, Director of Choral Activities teaching positions have included conducting numerous choral ensembles (mixed, single-gender, community, and jazz), supervising graduate and music education programs, and teaching courses in choral literature, applied voice, and vocal improvisation at the University of Southern Mississippi, Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, Iowa State University, St. Norbert College, and the University of South Dakota. Fowler-Calisto also taught high school choral music in Littleton, Colorado and North Bend, Oregon for six years and has served as a church musician in a variety of congregational settings. 

Dr. Fowler-Calisto was proud of her educational training, earning a Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Choral Conducting (with a cognate in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy), a Master of Music in Performance degree in choral conducting from the University of Arizona, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota.

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Fowler-Calisto was active as an adjudicator and guest conductor for high school, college, and middle school Honor Choirs, Festival Choirs and Jazz/Show Choirs. Additionally, she was a sought-after guest clinician, presenting workshops and lectures on voice matching, conducting, and vocal pedagogy at state and regional conferences. Special highlights include the collegiate (mixed) honor choir at the 2001 Southern Division MENC convention and The American International School of Muscat, Oman choral festival in 2011, involving choirs from twenty different countries. Fowler-Calisto was proud of her students and ensembles, who have garnered accolades and awards as professional conductors, singers, music educators, and guest conference performers.

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One of Dr. Fowler-Calisto’s favorite activities included international travel. She believed that the experience of travel unlocks historic and cultural barriers and broadens our perspective on the world. She loved to share this philosophical approach with her students and has done so in a practical way by touring Europe with her university choirs six times in the past ten years. Dr. Fowler-Calisto was also an enthusiastic dog lover! She was the proud mom of two golden retrievers, Charlotte and Shiloh.