R&R Deep Dive: Senior High

Nathan Dame

National Senior High R&R Chair

Dr. Nathan Dame is Coordinator of Fine Arts and Director of Choral Activities at Wylie East High School in Wylie, Texas. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Kansas, a Master of Arts in Music Education from Texas Woman’s University and a Ph.D. with honors in Music Education with an Emphasis in Choral Pedagogy and a minor in Leadership and Administration from the University of Kansas. Dr. Dame is a passionate conductor-teacher with experiences leading students of all ages and ability levels, from elementary through college. He has served as a choral music educator in the Texas public schools and on the music education faculty of the University of Kansas, where he taught choral conducting, rehearsal techniques, choral methods, supervised student teachers, and conducted the Men’s Glee Club, Youth Chorus, and Rock Chalk Singers.

At Wylie East, Dr. Dame conducts the A Cappella Choir, three ability-based tenor-bass choirs, the school’s popular music ensemble Out of the Blue, oversees a program of over 320 singers enrolled in eleven performing ensembles, and provides leadership for the East Choir Vertical Team, consisting of eight choral directors and nine private vocal faculty. Choirs under his direction consistently earn superior ratings at regional and state contests and have grown in enrollment to become some of the largest choral programs in the area. During his career, he has received numerous grants for arts advocacy initiatives and Excellence in Teaching awards from area school districts and organizations. He was recently named to the 2022 Yamaha Class of Top 40 Under 40 Music Educators in the United States. Dr. Dame enjoys an active career as clinician/conductor, author, and adjudicator both nationally and internationally. He has presented at the International Voice Foundation Symposium, national, divisional, and state conventions of ACDA, the NAfME national conference, and the Texas and Kansas MEA clinic-conventions. In 2022-2023, engagements include performances and workshops in Texas, Nevada, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Ohio. He is published through the Choral Journal, ChoralNet, Southwestern Musician, Texas Music Education Research, and RBC Publications. Choirs under his direction have been invited to perform at the Southwestern ACDA and TMEA conventions, have been winners of the National Choral Honors contest, and have been featured in performances in venues such as Southwark Cathedral and Cadogan Hall in London, St. John's Cathedral in Denver, and the Meyerson Symphony Hall in Dallas.

Dr. Dame currently serves as the National Repertoire & Resources Chair for Senior High Choirs and also serves as TMEA Region 25 Vocal Treasurer. Past appointments have included ACDA National Chair for MS/JH Choirs, TMEA Region 25 Vocal Chair, Region 2 MS/JH Vocal Chair, State Collegiate President of KMEA, and two-time district coordinator of vocal/choral music.