Emilie Bertram, D.M.A.
Education
D.M.A. in Choral Conducting and Literature (2020)
GPA: 4.0 of 4.0
University of Colorado; Boulder, Colo.
M.M. in Music Education (2006)
Choral and Piano Emphasis
GPA: 3.9 of 4.0
Ithaca College; Ithaca, N.Y.
B.M. in Music Education (2004); Summa Cum Laude
Choral and Piano Emphasis
Concordia College; Moorhead, Minn.
Biography
Dr. Bertram serves as Director of Choral Activities, Music Department Chair, and Associate Professor of Music at Waldorf University where she conducts the Waldorf University Choir, Schola Cantorum and teaches courses in conducting and choral methods.
Prior to her appointment at Waldorf, Dr. Bertram conducted various ensembles during her studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, including the Treble Chorus, University Choir and University Singers. She has taught in the public and private school systems in Minn., N.Y. and CA, instructing general music, piano, voice and choral music. Dr. Bertram’s ensembles have enjoyed invited performances in San Francisco, Anaheim, Seattle, Vancouver, Ireland, New York City, were featured at the 2017 California ACDA State Convention, and will perform at Carnegie Hall in 2026. Dr. Bertram enjoys creating intergenerational, community-based music experiences and has collaborated with groups such as the ASTER Women’s Chamber Chorus, Nordkor Children’s Choir, North Iowa Choral Society, Una Vocis Choral Ensemble, Fort Dodge Area Symphony, Fort Dodge Choral Society and Austin Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Bertram is an active clinician and scholar who enjoys frequent guest conducting and clinician invitations. She has presented research and pedagogy topics at National Collegiate Choral Organization National Conference, American Choral Director’s Association Regional and National Conferences, Iowa Music Educators Association State Conference, California State Music Educators Conference, has led workshops on the collaborative pianist/choral conductor relationship, and is an adjudicator for the Iowa High School Music Association. Her research on “Utilizing the Principles of Storytelling to Create Engaging Concert Programs” was published as a featured article in the Choral Journal. She was also a contributing author to In Search of Inspiration: Interviews with Notable Choral Conductors, published in 2022. Dr. Bertram believes in employing ensemble pedagogy focused on active listening, technical skill development, musical nuance, the intentional fostering of intrinsic motivation, and the building of community, resulting in communicative, authentic performance experiences.
Dr. Bertram holds degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder (D.M.A., Choral Conducting and Literature), Ithaca College (M.M., Music Education) and Concordia College (B.M., Secondary Vocal Music Education). She has been privileged to study with conductors René Clausen, Janet Galván, Ann Howard Jones, Gregory Gentry, Elizabeth Swanson, Gary Lewis, Joan Conlon, Sharon Hansen and Richard Bjella. She has sung as a member of numerous performing ensembles, including the Concordia Choir, University of Colorado Boulder University Singers and The Choral Project.
