Mark Bartel, DMA

Mark Bartel is in demand as a versatile conductor and music educator and has conducted university choirs and taught applied voice and conducting for over twenty years. He has held positions at Steinbach Bible College, Canadian Mennonite University, Western University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges (Geneva, NY) and Friends University (Wichita, KS). After a 16-year tenure in the U.S, he returned to Canada in 2019 to join the faculty of Ambrose University as Associate Professor of Music. He is an experienced performer as conductor, soloist and professional chorister, and his conducting and voice students have gone on to graduate schools throughout North America.

Dr. Bartel has extensive experience leading a wide range of community choirs in both the United States and Canada. He is Chorus Director of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (Ellen and Allen Borak Endowed Chair) and has also served as Artistic Director of Calgary’s Spiritus Chamber Choir. Dr. Bartel has held music ministry positions in both Winnipeg and Dallas and presents workshops on church music and worship. During his time in Kansas, he led the choirs of Friends University on four international tours and regular performances at music educator’s conventions and served as President of the Kansas Choral Directors Association.

Current research

Dr. Bartel has commissioned and conducted premieres of new choral works with the Wichita Chamber Chorale (KS), the Spiritus Chamber Choir (Calgary) and the Ambrose University Singers. As Chorus Director of the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, he prepares the chorus for performances with Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra under Maestro Rune Bergmann and conducts the chorus in outreach events.

He has researched and given presentations concerning choirs around the world engaged in active peacebuilding through the choral experience.