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Kathy Saltzman Romey Fund for Choral Conducting Graduate Students

A personal campaign sponsored by University of Minnesota Choirs

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About the Fund

After over 30 years of teaching at the University of Minnesota, Director of Choral Activities - Kathy Saltzman Romey - is retiring in May 2023.  Help us honor her illustrious career with a gift to a fund created to recognize the impact she has had on countless students.

The purpose of this fund is to provide financial support for doctoral students in 
choral conducting as they prepare for their final recital performance or thesis document. Examples of possible usage include but are not limited to purchasing music, hiring instrumentalists, renting a performance space, or traveling for research. If we reach our goal, we will be able to endow this fund and extend her legacy for future generations.

If you'd like to make a one time gift, you can donate directly from this site.  If you'd rather make a recurring donation, click here




About Kathy Romey

During her illustrious tenure at the University, Romey has distinguished herself as a true international leader in the field of choral music. Her commitment to the education of young musicians has benefited students from around the world.  Her graduate students have garnered significant recognition for their scholarship, community engagement initiatives, and conducting abilities. Her unique mentorship style focuses on more than just the music. "Choral activism" is what she calls it—a passion for civic engagement, exploring social issues and bringing people together from different communities.  

Complementing her work at the University is Romey’s leadership of the Minnesota Chorale. As artistic director, Romey has prepared the Chorale for performances with the Minnesota Orchestra under the baton of Music Directors Osmo Vänskä, Eiji Oue and Edo de Waart, Sommerfest Artistic Directors Andrew Litton, Leonard Slatkin and David Zinman, and acclaimed guest conductors as Roberto Abbado, James Conlon, Nicholas Kraemer, Roger Norrington, Helmuth Rilling and Robert Shaw. She also coordinates and presents the Chorale’s Bridges series, a nationally acclaimed community- engagement program that harnesses the richness of global choral repertoire to engage community and raise awareness of pressing social needs. Romey has also served as principal chorus master for the Oregon Bach Festival’s 54-voice professional choir, which she prepares for annual concerts, commissions and recording projects. 

Romey earned a B.A. in flute performance from the University of Oregon in 1979, and an Artistic Degree in choral conducting under Helmuth Rilling from the Frankfurt Musikhochschule in 1984. She is the recipient of many awards, including Conductor of the Year, Minnesota Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (2002); Arthur Motley Award for Exemplary Teaching, University of Minnesota (2006); and Distinguished Service Award, Chorus America (2021). 

Retirement Celebration
Planning for retirement celebrations is currently underway. Her final concert will be at Ted Mann Concert Hall on Saturday, April 22, 2023.  All are welcome to attend.  Choral alumni will be receiving an invitation to come to campus that afternoon to rehearse and sing with Professor Romey one final time.  Details will be released in Spring 2023.  




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