Wichita State University's Singers/Madrigal Singers are select ensembles, whose repertoire draws from the Renaissance through Contemporary literature. They have performed on state, regional, and national music convention programs. They have participated in six extensive tours of Europe and South America, singing in many of the major cathedrals. They have also performed in such choral festivals as the Vienna Choral Symposium; the Incontro Internazionale Polifonico, Fano, Italy; the St. Gallen Choral Festival, and the International Choral Festival in Guayaquil, Ecuador. In July 1996, the University Singers/Madrigal Singers toured England, Wales, and Scotland and participated in the Llangollen Musical Eisteddfod in Uangollen, Wales. In July of 1998, the groups toured Europe, and the Madrigal Singers took 2nd place at the Festival of Academic Choirs in Pardubice, Czech-Republic. The University Singers/Madrigal Singers recently combined with other WSU choirs to perform under the baton of Robert Shaw during his third residency at WSU.
Dr. Harrison C. Boughton
Harrison C. Boughton is Professor and Director of Choral Music at Wichita State University. He served twenty-two years as Chair of the Voice/Choral Department. His groups have appeared at numerous state, regional, and national music conventions, including Kansas Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, American Choral Directors Association, and Music Teachers National Association. Most recently, the Madrigal Singers performed under Dr. Boughton's direction at the Southwestern Division ACDA convention in Dallas, Texas in March of 1996. He has made six extensive tours of Europe and South America with perrorming groups. In the summer of 1996, the University Singers and Madrigal Singers performed at the Shrewsbury International Festival in England and the Liangollen Eisteddfod in Wales. In 1998, the groups toured Europe, and the Madrigal Singers took 2nd place at the Festival for Academic Choirs in Pardubice, Czech-Republic. In 1981 he participated, on invitation, as guest clinician at a week long workshop of the Austrian Choral Directors Association in Graz, Austria. Dr. Boughton taught public school music in lowa, and voice and choral music at William Jewell College and Evansville University before coming to Wichita State University in 1961. He serves frequently as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States. He has served two terms as President of the Southwestern Division of the American Choral Director's Association. Dr. Boughton was the 1985 recipient of the Harry Robert Wilson Award in recognition of his contribution to choral music in Kansas. In 1991 and 1999, the WSU chapter of Mortar Board recognized him for "Outstanding Inspiration and Student Support." He received the Alumni Award for professional achievement from his alma mater, the University of Northern lowa, in April of 1995, and in April of 1996, he was presented with the WSU President's Award for Extraordinary Achievernent. In the spring of 1997, he was a candidate for the WSU Distinguished Professorship. Dr. Boughton has prepared the chorus for three Robert Shaw Residencies at Wichita State and he has also been a Festival Singer at three Carnegie Hall Robert Shaw Workshops. In addition to his educational responsibilities, Dr. Boughton is Director of Music at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wichita.