Michael D. Zemek

Professor, Music Education, Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble

• Phone: 309-794-7656
• Email: MichaelZemek@augustana.edu
• Office: Bergendoff 112

Michael Zemek is division dean of arts and communication and professor of choral music education at Augustana College, where he conducts the Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble and teaches music methods and conducting courses. He came to Augustana after eight years of teaching choral music in Minnesota and Iowa. In addition to his responsibilities at Augustana, Dr. Zemek is the director of music ministries at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City.

Dr. Zemek frequently serves as guest conductor and clinician at various choral events, has directed numerous community, church, and school ensembles, and is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, American Choral Directors Association, and Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. He has presented at state, regional and national conferences for each of these organizations.  

Under his direction the Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble performed at the North Central Music Educators Conference, the Illinois American Choral Directors Association Fall Conference, and several times at the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Conference.  

His research has been included in Music Educators Journal, Teaching Music, Journal of Music Teacher Education, UPDATE:  Applications of Research in Music Education, ChorTeach and his book "Cooperating Teacher Selection and Preparation in Music Teacher Education."

During the summer, Dr. Zemek has served as the summer program director and Paul Bouman Chapel Choir Conductor at Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival, a month-long program for accomplished high school musicians from throughout the United States, and program director for Young Lutherans Sing, a national middle school choir camp sponsored by the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. 

The recipient of many honors and awards, Dr. Zemek was honored by the MAPCO Scholar’s Program with a national teaching award for excellence and leadership in his field.

Dr. Zemek received the doctor of education degree in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in vocal, instrumental, and classroom music education, summa cum laude, from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., and a master of music degree in choral conducting from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minn.

Specializations: Music education, Choral conducting, Teacher preparation, Church music