Directors

Angela Batey is recognized as a prominent conductor, clinician, adjudicator and teacher whose wide variety of experience encompasses professional, university, high school, community and church choruses. She is Director of Choral Activities and conducts the Chamber Singers and teaches conducting courses at the graduate levels.

Dr. Batey has been selected as a James R. Cox Professor, one of only three at the University of Tennessee. She is Director of Music at Farragut Presbyterian Church. Dr. Batey is a Past-President of the Tennessee American Choral Directors Association.  She has been Conductor of the Roane Choral Society, Associate Conductor of Schola Cantorum of Florida, a professional chorus, Associate Music Director of the Florida Ambassadors of Music and Festival Director of the International Cathedral Music Festival held annually in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Batey has appeared as a clinician for the American Choral Directors Association, South Carolina Music Educators Association, Florida Vocal Association, and is a frequent adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor of choral festivals, honors choirs and educational workshops. Her concern for excellence in education is the focal point of her teaching career.

Dr. Batey holds two degrees from Birmingham-Southern College in Music Education and Musical Theatre, a master's degree from The Florida State University in Music Education and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina. In addition, she has studied Conducting with Hugh Thomas, Joseph Flummerfelt, Robert Shaw, Colleen Kirk, Clayton Krehbiel, Andre Thomas, Don V Moses and Larry Wyatt.

Gene Peterson is the Associate Director of Choral Activities and is the conductor of the UT Concert Choir and UT Men’s Chorale.  He also teaches courses in undergraduate choral conducting and secondary choral methods.  Beyond his duties at the university, Peterson serves as the Director of Sanctuary Choir at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. 

Prior to his arrival to Tennessee, Peterson has held posts as music director and conductor for college, high school, church, and community choirs in California and Washington. Ensembles under his leadership have performed in venues throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, including the Sistine Chapel, the Sydney (Australia) Opera House, and Chicago Symphony Hall. 

Peterson regularly appears as a clinician and adjudicator for local, regional, and international choral festivals.  He holds membership in many professional organizations including the American Choral Choral Directors Association, National Collegiate Choral Organization, and East Tennessee Vocal Association.  He has served in professional leadership roles such as High School Standards and Repertoire Chair for the California American Choral Directors Association and as Bay Area Choral Representative for the California Music Educators Association.

Peterson has had the pleasure to be mentored by and to study with Geoffrey Boers, William Hall, Jane Hardester, and Weston Noble.  He holds a Bachelor of Music in Choral Conducting and a Masters of Arts in Education from Chapman University in Orange, California and has completed residency for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Wendel Werner received his Bachelor of Music in Studio Music and Jazz and his Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Tennessee. While at the University, he studied with renowned jazz musicians, Donald Brown and Jerry Coker. An accomplished composer and arranger, Mr. Werner has written for the Knoxville Children's Show Choir, Knoxville Showstoppers, UT Singers, Knoxville Community Chorus, and the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. A proponent of jazz, Mr. Werner performs frequently for "Alive After Five," series of jazz programs at the Knoxville Museum of Art, and started the group "Just in Time", and all female vocal jazz group. Mr. Werner is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and serves as the Multicultural Music R&S chair for the Tennessee state chapter.