Rowland Blackley

Rowland (“Ron”) Blackley is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Ashland University, where he conducts the University Choir, Chamber Singers, and Ashland Area Chorus. He supervises all aspects of the choral program and teaches in the areas of conducting and music education. While he deals primarily with choral groups now, Dr. Blackley has conducted numerous orchestras and bands throughout his career. He co-directs the major opera workshop productions and has served as conductor and music director for several Ashland University theatrical productions. Prior to his appointment at Ashland University, Dr. Blackley taught and conducted at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Lindsey Wilson College, Kent State University, and high schools in Ohio and Colorado. He has led choirs on several domestic and international tours.

A graduate of Concordia College, New York, Blackley received his Master of Music degree from Kent State University and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in the Literature and Performance of Choral Music from the University of Colorado at Boulder. An accomplished organist, he currently serves Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ashland, Ohio, and is an Associate of the American Guild of Organists. He is a member of the MENC, ALCM, and a life member of the American Choral Directors Association. Dr. Blackley is a seasoned clinician (vocal and church music) and adjudicator (vocal, choral, piano), and served for 6 years as editor of OCDA News. He has over twenty choral compositions published with Southern Music Company. Ron resides in Ashland with his wife and two children.