Ben May

Ben May serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the State University of New York at Oswego, where he directs the State Singers, Concert Choir, and Festival Choir while teaching Aural Skills and Voice courses. Previously, he led choral programs at Brazosport College and James Bowie High School, and served as music director for multiple churches and the Houston Tidelanders barbershop chorus.

His educational credentials include:

• D.M.A. Choral Conducting (Music Education minor), University of Houston
• Kodály Certification (levels I-III), Austin ISD Kodály Institute
• M.M. Choral Conducting, Westminster Choir College (with distinction)
• B.M. Music Theory/Composition, Vanderbilt University (summa cum laude)

Dr. May's scholarly work centers on contemporary postmodern choral innovation and technology-enhanced pedagogy, with demonstrated expertise in diversifying repertoire beyond Western traditions. His creative output includes published arrangements of Schubert's 'Das Grosse Halleluja' and original barbershop compositions.

Key recognitions include:

• Raymond W. Brock Student Composition Contest winner (ACDA)
• Double award winner for 'Evita' (2015 Greater Austin High School Musical Theatre Awards)
• Multiple UIL sweepstakes ratings with high school ensembles

As a mentor, Dr. May supervises multiple choral ensembles while maintaining active scholarly engagement through clinics, guest conducting, and research-backed teaching methods. His high school programs consistently achieved superior festival ratings and performed at major regional venues.

The SUNY Oswego choral program under Dr. May features innovative programming spanning Western classical, jazz, gospel, and contemporary works, highlighted by his pandemic-era technology-integrated Fauré Requiem production that demonstrated adaptive leadership in performance arts education.