| rakes-curriculum_vitae_2023.pdf |
John Patrick Rakes is a versatile artistic director, conductor, professor, and vocal instructor whose dedication to artistic and educational excellence is evident in his performing and teaching. He is the Artistic Director of both the Downers Grove Choral Society and the Naperville Men's Glee Club, ensembles which continue to celebrate a long-standing tradition of choral excellence under his leadership. Recent performances include Faure's Requiem, Beethoven's Mass in C, and Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. In 2022, Dr. Rakes had the priviledge to conduct a performance of Zelenka's Miserere in C minor at Carnegie Hall. This performance was the first time this work had been performed in the historic venue. Dr. Rakes teaches as an Adjunct Professor at both Wheaton College, North Central College, and Kishwaukee College while serving as the Pastor of Music and Worship at Church of the Savior.
Dr. Rakes earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy (D.M.A.) from the University of Iowa where he was privileged to study under Dr. Timothy Stalter and Dr. David Puderbaugh. At Iowa, he served as a graduate guest conductor and performed as an accompanist to the choral department while singing in the University’s elite choral ensemble, Kantorei. His doctoral thesis, "A critical edition of Missa Gratiarum in C by Antonio Caldara (ca. 1671-1736)", was an international research and editorial project.
Dr. Rakes has earned a Master of Music (M.M.) with an emphasis in Music Education from Northern Illinois University. At Northern, he studied choral conducting, arranging, and choral literature under Dr. Eric Johnson. He also completed an action research thesis entitled "The Effect of Harmonic Accompaniment on the Pitch Accuracy of First and Fourth Grade Students Learning a Singing Task." Dr. Rakes was selected to present this research at the Illinois Music Conference Poster Session in 2011. Dr. Rakes has also earned a Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) from Wheaton College. At Wheaton, he studied conducting under Dr. Paul Wiens and Dr. Daniel Sommerville, while completing studies in piano and organ under Mr. John Zimmerman and Dr. Edward Zimmerman respectively.
Dr. Rakes earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy (D.M.A.) from the University of Iowa where he was privileged to study under Dr. Timothy Stalter and Dr. David Puderbaugh. At Iowa, he served as a graduate guest conductor and performed as an accompanist to the choral department while singing in the University’s elite choral ensemble, Kantorei. His doctoral thesis, "A critical edition of Missa Gratiarum in C by Antonio Caldara (ca. 1671-1736)", was an international research and editorial project.
Dr. Rakes has earned a Master of Music (M.M.) with an emphasis in Music Education from Northern Illinois University. At Northern, he studied choral conducting, arranging, and choral literature under Dr. Eric Johnson. He also completed an action research thesis entitled "The Effect of Harmonic Accompaniment on the Pitch Accuracy of First and Fourth Grade Students Learning a Singing Task." Dr. Rakes was selected to present this research at the Illinois Music Conference Poster Session in 2011. Dr. Rakes has also earned a Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) from Wheaton College. At Wheaton, he studied conducting under Dr. Paul Wiens and Dr. Daniel Sommerville, while completing studies in piano and organ under Mr. John Zimmerman and Dr. Edward Zimmerman respectively.
