About

Geoffrey Boers is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Washington in Seattle and holds the position of Ruth Sutton Waters Endowed Professor. His program is recognized as forward thinking, unique, and of great distinction. Under his direction, the graduate choral program has developed a mission to nurture the whole student as conductor, teacher, servant, leader, and scholar. This has contributed to making the program one of the most vibrant and innovative in the country, attracting students from around the world interested in exploring the future of choral art. His teaching explores the evolution of conducting gesture and rehearsal pedagogy, connecting these with emerging neuroscience concepts such as mirror neurons, empathy, perception, learning, and personal transformation. His work has led to new insights about conducting and teaching, emphasizing breath, movement, artistry, personal awareness, and cultural development. Boers has mentored local and national cohorts of teachers and conductors, fostering professional communities of ongoing mentorship and musical development across the United States and Canada. He actively collaborates with leaders in ACDA and NAfME to develop systems for musicianship development, assessment, adjudication, and repertoire grading. In addition to his academic role, Boers maintains an active schedule conducting, teaching, and leading workshops and clinics worldwide. His engagements include performances at prominent venues such as Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Meyerson Concert Hall in Dallas, Lincoln Center in New York, the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. He has served as artist-in-residence in Toronto, Mainz, and Seoul, conducting renowned choirs including the Incheon City Chorale. Boers also sings professionally and conducts the Tacoma Symphony Chorus, leading both the choir and symphony players. Since his tenure at UW, he has led the choral program to become a leader in promoting Baltic music, organizing tours to the Baltic countries and creating the first Baltic Choral Library in the United States through a Royalty Research Grant. His efforts have fostered international exchanges and provided opportunities for UW students to study and work in the Baltic region.

Research topics

• Art
• Visual arts
• History
• Computer science
• Art history

Selected publications

• UW Chamber Singers Geoffrey Boers, conductor University Chorale Giselle Wyers, conductor May 23, 2018

  ResearchWorks at the University of Washington (University of Washington) · 2018-05-23

  articleOpen access

  Concert Program

  Publisher

• UW Chamber Singers and University Chorale March 2, 2018

  ResearchWorks at the University of Washington (University of Washington) · 2018-03-02

  articleOpen access

  Concert Program

  Publisher

• UW Chorale and UW Chamber Singers November 30, 2017

  ResearchWorks at the University of Washington (University of Washington) · 2017-11-30

  articleOpen access

  Concert Program

  Publisher

• Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezin June 2, 2017

  ResearchWorks at the University of Washington (University of Washington) · 2017-06-02

  articleOpen access

  Concert Program

  Publisher

• Opera Workshop Dido & Aeneas April 9, 2017

  ResearchWorks at the University of Washington (University of Washington) · 2017-04-09

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Concert Program

  Publisher

• University Chorale and University Chamber Singers March 3, 2017

  ResearchWorks at the University of Washington (University of Washington) · 2017-03-03

  articleOpen access

  Concert Program

  Publisher

• UW Chorale Chamber Singers May 24, 2017

  ResearchWorks at the University of Washington (University of Washington) · 2017-05-24

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Concert Program

  Publisher

• University Chorale Chamber Singers March 9, 2016

  2016-03-09

  articleSenior author
  Publisher

• Open Rehearsal UW Chamber Orchestra & UW Symphony with Combined UW Choruses and Soloists April 21, 2016

  ResearchWorks at the University of Washington (University of Washington) · 2016-04-21

  articleOpen access

  Concert Program

  Publisher

• University Chorale Chamber Singers December 1, 2016

  ResearchWorks at the University of Washington (University of Washington) · 2016-12-01

  articleOpen access

  Concert Program

  Publisher

Frequent coauthors

• Giselle Wyers

  22 shared

• Chamber Singers

  17 shared

• UW Chamber Singers

  9 shared

• Serena Chin

  Queen's University

  9 shared

• Women's Choir

  5 shared

• Men's Glee Club

  5 shared

• Heather MacLaughlin Garbes

  5 shared

• Phyllis Byrdwell

  5 shared

Labs

• Geoffrey Boers LabPI

Awards & honors

• Royalty Research Grant (2004)