Classical MPR appoints Tesfa Wondemagegnehu as Manager of the Choral Works Initiative

Jul 17, 2014

Classical MPR has appointed choral educator and conductor Tesfa Wondemagegnehu (won-dih-MAWG-nee-you) as manager of the choral works initiative and conductor of the APM (American Public Media) Radio Choir.

In his new role, Wondemagegnehu will spearhead Classical MPR's music education outreach efforts, visiting Minnesota schools several times a month, working with students in under-resourced schools that need help supporting a struggling music program as well as thriving music programs seeking deeper choral expertise.

"I am thrilled about the unlimited possibilities of my new role," said Wondemagegnehu. "I hope to be a catalyst in the larger movement of sharing the transformational power of choral music with both those who know it already and those who don't yet know what they're missing."

In addition, he'll lead the formation of the APM Radio Choir, a community-building group of young singers under his direction who'll perform across the state. He'll also continue his work on building awareness of the MPR Choral Music Stream and will play a larger role in programming for that service.

"Tesfa has a range of teaching and conducting experience--from basic music literacy to masters-level fluency in choral arts-- to deploy what's needed specific to the new situation he's walking into," said Brian Newhouse, managing director of classical music. "More importantly, his role is much more than music-making; he'll help create and bolster a love of music and a sense of joy and possibility for students throughout Minnesota."

Over the past year, Wondemagegnehu was MPR's first-ever choral stream representative, where he worked to expand Classical MPR's popular Choral Stream through blogging, social media, community-building, outreach and education.

Wondemagegnehu also served as the assistant artistic director at VocalEssence. Before moving to the Twin Cities, he worked in Florida's public schools, serving as director of choral activities at Freedom High School in Orlando, Fla. During his tenure, he was named Orange County Public School Teacher of the Year (2013) and received the Macy's National Magic of Teaching Award (2013). In addition, he has conducted his choirs in performances at state conventions of the American Choral Directors Association (2010 & 2012) and the Florida Music Educators' Association (2011).

In high demand as a guest conductor and lecturer, Wondemagegnehu has presented workshops and conducted honor choirs in Florida, Tennessee, Ohio and Costa Rica. As a tenor soloist, he has performed both in the United States and internationally in Germany, Austria , Hungary and Costa Rica under the batons of Dale Warland, Krzysztof Penderecki, Andre Thomas, Anton Armstrong, and Rodney Eichenberger.