Retiring K-State professor recognized with Senate resolution

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Source: Rod Walker, 785-532-3814, rwalk@k-state.edu
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Note to editors: Walker is a 1955 graduate of McCook High School, McCook, Neb.
News release prepared by: Sara Shellenberger, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

RETIRING K-STATE PROFESSOR RECOGNIZED WITH SENATE RESOLUTION

MANHATTAN -- Rod Walker, retiring professor of music and director of choral studies and activities at Kansas State University, was recently honored with a Kansas Senate Resolution commending him on his 41 years of service to K-State.

The resolution was presented to Walker in Topeka by sponsors Sens. Stephen R. Morris, Senate president, Hugoton, and Roger Reitz, Manhattan. The resolution, No. 1832, serves to "congratulate and commend Rod Walker for his long and distinguished career as a director and professor of music, thank him for the inspiration and joy he has given the thousands of students who benefited from his direction and his passion for music, and offer him our very best wishes for a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement."

"It was very nice," Walker said. "It's an honor to be recognized in this way and I am very grateful." Sen. Morris' daughter was a student of Walker's and, according to the resolution, treasures her memories and experiences as a member of the K-State Choir.

Walker joined K-State in 1966 and has been busy making music ever since.

He conducts the K-State Choir and Chorale and heads the undergraduate and graduate choral conducting program. Walker has served as artistic director of International Seminars in Music, a summer performance program abroad for selected choirs, singers and choral directors, and is founder-director of the Summer Choral Institute for Gifted High School Singers at K-State. In addition, he is founder and director of the American Symposium for Choral Music.

His K-State Choir has performed nine concert tours on three continents, and has performed across the United States at conventions for the American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, Kansas Music Educators Association, the Music Teachers National Association and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

As a guest conductor, lecturer and adjudicator, Walker has traveled to 31 states and 13 foreign countries. He has conducted more than 420 all-state, university, honor, regional, divisional and other festival choruses and has been a guest conductor at Carnegie Hall twice. He has edited dozens of choral selections for publication, including his own Rod Walker Choral Series.

Federated Music Clubs of Kansas named Walker the Kansas Educator of the Year for 1989. In 1994 he was awarded the first Archie Jones Award for his "leadership, inspiration and service" to the American Choral Directors Association Southwestern Division. He also was the 1994 recipient of the Harry Robert Wilson Award from the Kansas Choral Directors Association. He has served as president of the Southwestern Division and the Kansas chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.

Walker received a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska; a master's degree from the Municipal University of Wichita and has done advanced study at the University of Colorado, University of Iowa and Indiana University.

He also has directed the Chancel Choir at the First United Methodist Church, Manhattan, and served as chorus master of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra for eight seasons.

Walker will retire at the end of the spring semester He said his retirement plans including taking it easy for awhile and then deciding what activities to pursue.