Jeffrey Haswell, after
graduating from University of Wisconsin - Whitewater in
1972 with a bachelor's degree in voice and music
education, obtained a livetime
teaching certificate with the State of Wisconsin and began teaching music in
the Marinette Public School in
Marinette, WI. In 1975 he took a choral and
instrumental music teaching position in the Whitewater Public
Schools in
Whitewater, WI.
While teaching in the local schools, he periodically held a
University Summer Camp honorarium position for
Swing & Jazz Choirs as well as
completing two Masters degrees; one in Kodaly Music Education and second with
emphasis in Choral Conducting.
Upon completion of the
Masters degrees in 1981 and with a desire obtain a
Doctorate in Music Conducting, he completed and passed the
initial application
process
and entrence examination for a Phd program to Columbia University in
New York. But later in 1982 felt he
needed a break from further education and
put Phd aspirations on hold indefinitely. He never rekindled
interest to obtain
the Phd,
but has always enjoyed directing choirs, jazz choirs, bands and
orchestras.
While studying voice as an undergraduate, he spent two summers in New York
City with Bernard U Taylor, renowned opera singer and vocal instructor, editor
publisher and retired Choral Department Chairperson at Juilliard School of
Music.
From 1972 through 1996, Jeffrey Haswell traveled on eight concert tours to
Europe as a singer, soloist and chorus director. He has concertized in
Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Belgium, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia,
Switzerland, and Austria.
After moving to
California he formed and lead the "Stony Ridge Ramblers", a
successful eight piece dixieland jazz band,
in the San Francisco Bay Area. For
14 years, he performed with this group for County Fairs, Chamber of
Commerice
events,
private & company christmas parties, attorney association parties,
senior living communities,
Pleasanton Community Concert Series, and
Livermore Community Concert Series.
As a Baritone, from
1982 thru 1986 he performed with the
"Valley Concert Chorale"
the Tri-Valley's
premier community chorus serving the Pleasanton, Livermore
and Castro Valleys. During that time he
also performed with the
San Francisco Bach Choir
at Davies Symphony
Hall. Then from 1996 thru 2005, he performed as
a Tenor with
"Voices of Musica Sacra"
a semi-professional
community chorus in Walnut Creek, CA. Voices of Musica
Sacra is now know
"Diablo Choral Artists"
.
Most recently, from
October 2011 through September 2013, he has served as Choir
Director for traditional church
services at Stallion Springs Community
Church. From January 2014 thru September 2015 directed
choir for Shepherd of
The Hills church in Bear Valley Springs.
In 2014, he
formed an outreach group of singers with a purpose to enhance and
enrich the lives of both the
singers in the group and those individuals who are
shut-in/immobile, in senior care facilities,
and hospitals. The outreach group
continues to grow and enrich people's lives.
He performs
with the Tehachapi Symphony Chorus, The Summit Singers, and sings
solos, duets, and in quartets
for local church services.
