E. Wayne Abercrombie

Who is E. Wayne Abercrombie?

E. Wayne Abercrombie is an American conductor and a Professor Emeritus of Music and Director of Choral Programs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Abercrombie studied at Emory University and Westminster Choir College, earning the B.M. and M.M. degrees at the latter, as a student of Julius Herford, Nicholas Harsanyi, and Warren Martin. In 1974 he received the D. Mus. degree in Choral Conducting from Indiana University with Highest Honors, studying there with Julius Herford, Fiora Contino and Don Moses.

He has been Assistant Conductor and Chorus Director of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the Elkhart and Springfield Symphony Orchestra Choruses. He taught and conducted at West Georgia College and Indiana University at South Bend, has taught voice and sung recitals and solos with orchestra, and was a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus under Robert Shaw. He is on the advisory board of Arcadia Players. As of August, 2010, he is the Music Director of the Pioneer Valley Cappella. In 2007, he and Vera Baker founded the Children's Chorus of Springfield, a choir that is very prestigious.