Have You Met Rutgers-Newark?

There is a song in Dr. John Floreen's heart - many of them, in fact.

Floreen is coordinator of the undergraduate music program at Rutgers, Newark, and has conducted the Rutgers Chorus since 1979. Back when Floreen assumed the job of director, he had a major obstacle to overcome: there were barely any students in the student chorus! Under his leadership, the chorus has flourished, delighting audiences throughout the Newark area as well as winning new fans overseas during eight international tours. The chorus also has released five CD recordings, making their talents available far beyond the campus.

As a teacher and scholar, Floreen has received three Fulbright Scholar Awards for Music Research in Austria, and in 2000 and 2002, he conducted choirs and taught conducting at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Chengdu, China. In recognition of his assistance in organizing a "Western type" choral program, the Sichuan Conservatory conferred on Floreen the title of Honorary Professor of Music.

Floreen's edition of Hummel's Mass in B-flat, published by Oxford University Press, received the American Choral Directors Association Award for Excellence in Research and Editing.

Floreen has served on the Music Panel of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and has also made two CD recordings with Westminster Choir College's Oratorio Choir, Princeton, New Jersey. As part of an ongoing exchange, Floreen has guest conducted the University of Leipzig (Germany) Choir and Orchestra. Floreen holds a doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Iowa.