Michael Zemek is an assistant professor of choral music education at Augustana College where he conducts the Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble and Chamber Singers, teaches music methods and conducting courses, supervises music education students, and advises the collegiate MENC and ACDA chapters. He came to Augustana after eight years of teaching choral music in Minnesota and Iowa. In addition to his responsibilities at Augustana, Dr. Zemek conducts the high school Youth Choir at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa.

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 Music Educators National Conference, American Choral Directors Association, and Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. In January 2007, the Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble sang at the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Conference, and in March 2007, Dr. Zemek presented a session on involving senior high youth in church music settings at the national conference for the American Choral Directors Association in Miami. His research on cooperating teacher selection and preparation for music education student teachers will be published in the Journal of Music Teacher Education.

During the summer months, Dr. Zemek has served as the Summer Program Director for Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival, a month-long program for accomplished high school musicians from throughout the United States. Beginning in 2005 he was appointed the Program Director and chairs the task force 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 in 1998 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, Minnesota, and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota.