Staff
Artistic Director/Conductor
Dr. Karl Nelson, a native of the Chicago area, Nelson has served as the Director of Choral
Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma since August of 2006, where he conducts the Cantilena Women’s Chorus, Chamber Singers, Concert Chorale and Edmond Community Chorus. He has also been the Director of the St. Paul’s Fine Arts Academy in Oklahoma City since 2007. In May 2008, the University of Central Oklahoma Concert Chorale toured throughout Italy and recently, his choirs have been invited to perform Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass at Carnegie Hall. A student of Kenneth Fulton, Michael Butterman, Jindong Cai, Chester Alwes, and Joe Grant, he earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His previous positions include Director of Choral Activities at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana, William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and director of choirs at St. Joseph's Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. Dr. Nelson has served as clinician and adjudicator on numerous occasions, working at the grade school, high school, college, and community levels. Dr. Nelson also has experience as the conductor of various church choirs as well as musical director for several musical theatre productions. When not directing music, he loves woodworking, watching his beloved Chicago Cubs, and spending time with his loving wife, Jena, three-year-old son, Rafe, and black lab, Wrigley.
Past Artistic Director/Conductor
Dr. Lon Dehnert, the founder and Artistic Director for ECC is the Director for Special Projects for the Center for Professional and Distance Education and formally Director of Choral Studies (1987-2003) and Assistant Dean for the College of Arts, Media and Design (2003 - 2005). As Director of Special Projects for the Center for Professional and Distance Education his responsibilities include facilitating continuous improvement, assessment of programs, CPDE staff and strategic planning. In addition he directs the ECC and teaches choral conducting and online music appreciation.
Dr. Dehnert, a native of Lander, WY, came to UCO in 1987 as Director of Choral Activities. At his arrival, his duties included conducting the University Singers and Chamber Singers as well as teaching Secondary Vocal Methods, Choral Conducting, Choral Arranging and supervision of student teachers. Fall of 1988 Dr. Dehnert created the Edmond Community Chorale and developed a three tiered choral division structure with Chamber Singers, Concert Chorale and a second large mixed choir (Concert Choir). Since then he added Cantilena Women's Chorale, Cantare men's ensemble, the Summer Choral Institute for talented high school singers and the Choral Directors Institute for area choral musicians. 
He holds the Bachelor of Music Education and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Kansas and the Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. He is an active team facilitator (LD Facilitation, Inc.), clinician, and guest lecturer and is a member of numerous professional organizations. He is Director of Music for St. Mary’s Episcopal Church of Edmond.
Assistant Director/Accompanist
Mr. Rondal J. Wallace has been the Assistant Director and Accompanist for the Edmond Community Chorale since 1991. He has played for numerous choral events at the University of Central Oklahoma under the direction of Dr. Dehnert. He also serves as accompanist for numerous choirs and soloists throughout the United States and Europe. He is a regular performer on the Kemp Concert Series in Oklahoma City and has recorded professionally with flutist John L. Edwards.
Mr. Wallace has served on the piano faculty at the University of Central Oklahoma since 2000 and has recently been selected to serve as the organ instructor and accompanist for the choral ensembles as well. In addition to teaching at UCO, Mr. Wallace is the Director of Church Music/Organist at Grace United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. He has held this position since 1990.
Mr. Wallace holds the Bachelor of Music Education and the Master of Music degrees from the University of Central Oklahoma. He taught vocal music at the high school level for 12 years and has been a church organist for the past 32 years. He is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, American Guild of Organists, Fellowship of United Methodist Musicians and Worship Arts, and is nationally certified in piano from the Music Teacher's National Association.
Edmond Community Chorale | Edmond, Oklahoma | Director: Dr. Karl Nelson | Phone: