Hooper directs choir's future

Becoming the new director of choral activities for Texas A&M University-Commerce's music department this semester was a homecoming of sorts for Dr. Randall Hooper.

Hooper's first choral music experience was singing in the cherub choir at his church as a child. Hooper credits his elementary music teachers with having instilled an enthusiasm for music in him.

"I knew from when I was probably 13 that this is what I was going to be doing," Hooper said. "So I feel kind of fortunate that I knew early that I wanted to be a choir director and eventually wanted to be a university choir director."

After graduation from West Mesquite High School, Hooper attended Southwest Texas State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in music education. He then spent 11 years teaching high school choral music programs in San Antonio, Austin and Garland.

Henry Thomas, the child actor who played Elliott in "E.T." was a senior in the speech class Hooper taught during his one year in San Antonio.

Hooper's award winning choral students at Garland High School sang at Carnegie Hall twice and made a trip to Austria and Germany.

"I feel like the 11 years of experience I had teaching high school paid off and that I have something to really offer the students by preparing them to teach high school," Hooper said.

At age 35, Hooper made the decision to pursue the academic degrees that would enable him to teach at the college level, which he said is his, "second career."

He obtained a master's degree from Baylor University and a doctorate in musical arts from Louisiana State University. Desiring to settle back in Texas long term, Hooper took a brief position as choral director at Tennessee Tech University for three years and then at Georgia State University for two years until a university job opening became available in Texas.

Hooper said while the greatest obstacle in finally arriving at A&M-Commerce was probably the numerous moves he, his wife and two daughters had to make, it has paid off as he is now both following his desired career path and back in the family's home state.

"Many times I have kind of an out of body experience and look down on myself and just smile," Hooper said. "It's a good thing to be in front of a choir and working on music. I love every part of that."

Hooper has already set goals for A&M-Commerce's choral program. He said he hopes to recruit about 40-45 new voice majors by next fall and to eventually expand the program to have 100-120 voice majors.

"My focus right now is to continue the positive energy that current students have," Hooper said. "They are an exceptional group of people. So I want to continue and build on that energy and build this program."

Hooper said the new Music Building will be an important draw for prospective students and will offer the choral program its own dedicated choir rehearsal room, something Hooper and his current students at present have to make due without.

"Dr Hooper brings to the position incredible talent, significant successful experience at the university level and a strong reputation among Texas choral directors," Dr. Christopher White, head of the music department said. "Moreover, Dr. Hooper is a consummate musician and educator-his students appreciate his leadership, and at the same time, work very hard to meet the high standards he holds for them as individuals and members of the ensemble."

Students also appreciate Hooper. "I think he's very efficient and that he uses rehearsal time very well," senior vocal music education major Katy Trela said. "He's always well prepared."

In his spare time, especially over the summer and winter breaks, Hooper enjoys remodeling old homes along with his wife of 21 years, who is an interior designer.

"We spend a lot of our time at Home Depot," he said.

Hooper said he will hopefully get to work on their 1950's contemporary ranch home in Greenville over Christmas season.