About Patrick Walders

Founding Artistic Director, a native of Buffalo, New York, is the Founding Artistic Director of the Pro Arte Voices, which presents the annual Summer Choral Festival & Conducting Workshop. He has led Honors Choruses and workshops in every corner of the U.S., and his international conducting experience includes teaching and guest conducting in Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, England and Germany. 

After teaching in public junior high and high schools in western New York, Dr. Walders taught at the university level for 20 years, building thriving choral programs and developing curricula at the University of Maryland, James Madison University and San Diego State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from the State University of New York – Fredonia, a master’s degree in choral conducting from the Westminster Choir College, and a doctorate in conducting from the University of Maryland – College Park. He is passionate about teaching all ages, enabling clients to be significant ambassadors not only for vocal/choral music, but also for all the arts.