About Us
Meet the Artistic Director
On July 1, 2010, the Bach Chorale Singers welcomed a new
Artistic Director and Conductor. Michelle Louer will be the 6th
person to hold this position in the Chorale's 45-year history. As
conductor of major works for chorus and orchestra, Louer has
led performances of Bach's Christmas Oratorio and Johannes-
Passion, the Poulenc Gloria, Holst's Te Deum, Requiem settings
of Mozart, Cherubini and Fauré, and Mendelssohn's Elijah.
Equally comfortable in front of an orchestra, Louer has also conducted Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 (New World), Elgar's Cello concerto in e minor, Prokofieff's Symphony No. 1, and Stravinsky's Firebird Suite (1919). Dick Jaeger (Lafayette Journal & Courier) noted Louer's "apparent ease before both orchestra and chorus" in her guest performance with the Bach Chorale Singers in 2006, remarking that she "produced an exquisite choral sound and a musically nuanced pair of performed works."
Dr. Louer received the doctoral degree in choral conducting from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, where she was a student of Jan Harrington, Carmen Helena-Téllez and Thomas Dunn. She holds two Masters degrees from Yale University where she graduated summa cum laude and a Bachelor of Music, magna cum laude from Stetson University.
Louer is currently, and will continue as, the Director of Music and Fine Arts at the Second Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis, where she oversees a comprehensive program that includes eight choirs, three instrumental ensembles, a vibrant Visual Arts program, and a Music and Fine Arts Series. Prior to her appointment at Second Presbyterian, Dr. Louer held positions at Butler University, University of Evansville and Oklahoma City University. She served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Kokomo Symphony Orchestra for 3 years.
Of her appointment, BCS president Mark Hermodson states, "Dr. Louer is a superb musician and conductor. She has a warm, engaging personality. She received strong support from both the Chorale and the Search Committee in the search process, being the first choice of both in a very strong field of candidates for the position."
