Converse Welcomes 25-26 Opera Guest Director, Dr. Luke Browder ’13
Dr. Luke Browder is a Lecturer of Choral and Vocal Studies at Clemson University where he directs the Men’s and Women’s Choirs, teaches applied voice, and is the music director for the Clemson Players musical productions. He has been an active musician and theatre artist in South Carolina for nearly 20 years and has worked as a conductor, performer, voice teacher, and director.
He earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting at the University of South Carolina where he conducted performances of Duruflé’s Requiem, Op. 9 and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb. Dr. Browder prepared the University Chorus for performances of Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, and the Opera at USC opera chorus for Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus and Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène. He has recently served as music director for productions of Sondheim’s Into the Woods and Pasek & Paul’s James and the Giant Peach, and his directing credits include productions of Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, and Tarzan.
A longtime resident of Upstate South Carolina, Dr. Browder earned his Bachelor of Music from Furman University, his Master of Music from Converse University, and has served on the music faculties at North Greenville University and Presbyterian College.
As a student at Converse, he sang the roles of Guglielmo in Cosí fan tutte and Father in Hansel and Gretel with Converse Opera Theatre. He has presented workshops and master classes at conventions for the SC Choral Directors Association, Southeastern Theatre Conference, SC Theatre Association, and the Palmetto Dramatic Association/SC Thespian Society. His performance credits include Nick in Come From Away, The Baker in Into the Woods, Father in Ragtime, King Arthur in Monty Python’s Spamalot, Schaunard in La Bohème, Jigger Craigin in Carousel, Frank in Die Fledermaus, and Barone Douphol in La Traviata.
Dr. Browder lives in Easley, SC with his wife Chelsea and their very rambunctious dog, Dolly.