Dale Choate is choral music specialist for Duval County Public Schools, where he assists administrators and teachers to improve instruction in the arts by coaching, training, and supporting the district-wide implementation of standards-based instruction; and participates in the development and teaching of in-service courses in relation to Music content, methods, and strategies. Prior to his current position, for twenty-seven years he was choral director of Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville, where his choral ensembles earned a distinguished reputation, having performed for ACDA’s 1992 Southern Division Convention, the 1995 FMEA Clinic, and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (1993, 1995).
Dale graduated from The Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in music education in 1980, and with a master’s degree in choral conducting in 1985, where he studied with Colleen Kirk and Clayton Krehbiel. He has studied extensively with Robert Shaw as a singer with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers (1996), and with Mr. Shaw in the Carnegie Hall Workshops (1995-1998). He has also performed with conductors James Conlon, Charles Dutoit, Peter Schreier, and Vance George in Carnegie Hall. He is a life member of ACDA, and served as Local Arrangements Chair for the Southern Division Convention in Jacksonville in 2014.
Dale Choate is a past president of the Florida Vocal Association, is an active guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician, and conducted the FVA All-State Women’s Chorus in 1997. He currently serves FVA as Adjudication Chair. He is a National Board Certified Teacher, and also serves as Director of traditional worship at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Jacksonville.