Longtime Choral Director to Retire After 30 Years

In high school, Patrick Gardner thought about becoming a lawyer or politician, but he soon realized he wanted to use his talents to move people in other ways.

"If I was going to use my skills for making a large group of people do something, I would feel very honest if what I'm doing was teaching them how to sing in tune that's about something that's deeply spiritual and meaningful,'' said Gardner, Distinguished Professor of Music at the Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Gardner came to Rutgers in 1993 as the first choral director at Mason Gross. Since then, he has led the Glee Club and the Kirkpatrick Choir in performances throughout Europe and North America.

On April 4, Gardner will conduct the Rutgers Glee Club, the Kirkpatrick Choir and the Riverside Choral Society in a performance at Carnegie Hall as he caps off his career.

"It’s about touching someone’s heart with a beautifully expressive statement that reaches them. That’s what I’m looking for,” he said.