Alan Raines, organist & conductor, received the M.M. and D.M.A. degrees in Choral Conducting at UCLA as a student of Donald Neuen, and M.M. degree in Organ Performance from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. He joined faculty at Georgia State University in 1999, and there he conducts the Georgia State University Singers, the Choral Society, teaches graduate conducting and administrates the graduate choral program at GSU. Before GSU, he held the position of Director of Choral Activities at the University of La Verne in La Verne, California, and he also served as the Assistant Conductor of the Angeles Chorale in Los Angeles. A frequent guest conductor and sought after clinician with choruses throughout the United States, Raines has conducted All-State Choruses in three states and guest conducted honor choruses in Nebraska, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Virginia this year alone. Under his direction, the University Singers recently made their successful debut in Spivey Hall to a near capacity audience. His choirs have performed throughout most of Europe, including invitations to sing Evensong at St. Paul’s, Winchester and Gloucester Cathedrals. In September he will travel to Chonan City in South Korea to guest conduct the Chonan City Choir and Orchestra in Haydn’s Lord Nelson Messe. Equally active as a vocal coach and accompanist, Raines can be heard in recitals around the country as a member of the Paradox Duo with University of Houston Instructor of Saxophone, Karen Wylie. Raines is a member of MENC, GMEA, Pi Kappa Lambda and is currently serving as the Repertoire and Standards Chair for the College Division of the Georgia Chapter of American Choral Directors Association.