Dr. Rebecca Raber was born in 1971, and grew up on the Lovcik Family Farm in Pisek, North Dakota. In 1994 she graduated Summa Cum Laude with Departmental Honors from Jamestown College, where she studied with Dr. Richard Harrison Smith, and earned degrees in Vocal/Instrumental Music Education, History/Political Science and Asian Studies. She was awarded College Fellow Awards in both Music and History. She has been a dedicated vocal and instrumental music educator since that time. Dr. Raber’s choir was designated the 2005 ND Governor’s Choir, and she was recently named “Outstanding Music Educator” through the National High School Activities Association.  In 2019, Dr. Raber was awarded "Choral Director of the Year" by the North Dakota chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.

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Dr. Raber graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting, studying with Dr. James Rodde and Dr. Susan McMane. Ms. Raber then served on the UND faculty as conductor of their popular men's choir, the Varsity Bards, until 2005. She served as the director of the ND Girls State Chorus for nine years, and in 2007, she conducted the Northern Ambassadors of Music Mixed Chorus which toured in England, France, Italy, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Dr. Raber directed choral ensembles at Shanley High School for 14 years, growing the program into two large mixed choirs totaling over half the entire student body and traveling on performance tours throughout the United States.  

 

A mezzo-soprano, she has been a featured soloist in Mozart's Requiem as well as several shorter choral works. Dr. Raber is an active adjudicator and guest clinician and has taught private voice for years.  She was the 2015 MTNA Commissioned Composer of the year and premiered her newest work, "Jesu dulcis memoria" at the University of North Dakota.  She served on the Executive Board of the International Music Camp for several years in addition to being a member of the teaching faculty.  Dr. Raber is very active in the American Choral Director's Association, previously having served as State President, ND Repertoire & Standards Chair for Male Choirs, and Membership Chair. She has presided and presented at state and regional ACDA conferences, in addition to organizing and facilitating them. She revamped and innovated the NDACDA website and  also served as editor/ publisher of the NDACDA professional journal, The Chorister.  ​Dr. Raber is currently a National Board Member for the National Collegiate Choral Organization.

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Dr. Raber earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at North Dakota State University in 2018, and studied with Dr. Jo Ann Miller, Dr. Michael Weber and Dr. Charlette Moe.  In 2018, shedelivered her lecture-recital entitled, ""Conducting the Coded Message Songs of Slavery:  Context, Connotations, and Performance Preparation" at the University of Mary.  She has also delivered lecture-recitals regarding African American Spirituals, including a performance lecture in cooperation with the Bismarck Mandan Symphony Orchestra in 2020.  Dr. Raber is a co-founder of the Prairie Jubilee Singers, a choral ensemble dedicated to building community through singing spirituals.

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Rebecca serves as Norma & Evert Person Chair of Choral Studies at the University of Mary, where she directs Cappella (the nationally-acclaimed chapel choir) and the UMary Concert Choir. 

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Dr. Raber has taught the following courses at the University of Mary:

• Music History I & II

• Experiencing the Sacred in Music (MUS/CTH)

• Secondary Choral Methods

• Advanced Choral Conducting

• Cappella (Liturgical Choir)

• Class Voice

• Graduate Music History & Literature

  • (Graduate History; The Romantic Age; Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, Experiencing the Sacred in Music) 

• Graduate Choral Conducting

• Graduate Choral Methods & Literature

• Graduate Capstones

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Presentations, Articles, Publications, & Research

• 2026 "Oh, Get Your Ticket Ready:  Directing Spirituals with Confidence"  NDMEA Conference

• 2025 "Abide in Me:  Eucharistic Music for Revival" (Album produced and published on Spotify, iTunes, CD, etc)

• 2020 "Steal Away: Music of the Underground Railroad" — with the Prairie Jubilee Singers and the Bismarck Mandan Symphony Orchestra

• 2020 "Coded Message Songs" — MLK Celebration (Bismarck)

• 2019 "Building Community Through Spirituals" — North Dakota American Choral Directors Association Conference

• 2018 "Conducting the Coded Message Songs of Slavery: Context, Connotations, and Performance Preparation" — Lecture Recital

• 2015 "Music Technology in the Classroom" — North Dakota American Choral Directors Association Conference

• 2014 "Study to Stage: Informing and Enhancing the Choral Rehearsal and Performance of the African-American Spiritual Repertory" — Choral Music of the Americas Conference through American Choral Directors Association

• Numerous articles published by the Chorister (NDACDA), Melisma (NCACDA), and the New Earth 

• Research Interests: Spirituals & Coded Music, Gullah, Requiem Masses, Sacred Music, Music Education

 

Recognition, Honors, Leadership, & Awards

• 2026  Named Norma & Evert Person Chair of Choral Studies (University of Mary)

• 2026  Finalist:  American Prize Competition (Cappella — University/College Division)

• 2024  National Board, National Collegiate Choral Organization

• 2020 "Rebecca Raber Choral Excellence Award" established as an annual student award — Shanley High School

• 2019 "Choral Director of the Year" — North Dakota American Choral Directors Association

• 2019  Executive Board of the International Music Camp

• 2013  Website Recognition of Excellence, National American Choral Directors Award

• 2015 "Commissioned Composer of the Year" — North Dakota Music Teachers Association

• 2009 "Outstanding Music Educator" — National Federation of State High School Associations

• 2009 "Choral Director of Note" — Choral Director Magazine

• 2005 "North Dakota Governor's Chorus" — as selected by North Dakota Governor John Hoeven

• 2007 "Invited Performing Choir" — NDSU Choral Festival

• 1997 "Invited Performing Choir" — South Dakota ACDA Conference

• College Fellow Awards in both Music and History — Jamestown College

• Phi Kappa Lambda, American honor society for graduate students and professors of music

• Photograph Awards & Features:  AAA North Dakota, AAA Magazine, AAA Illinois, AAA Florida, ND Governor's Photo Award Winner (6), ND Horizons Magazine, North Dakota Horizons Calendar, Highline Notes Magazine, Fargo Forum, City Scan Magazine, Microsoft/Arts Partnership, Medora Foundation, Travel North Dakota, Kilbourne Group Calendar, Bismarck Cancer Center Calendar, FM Area Foundation, Bismarck Art & Trail Narratives.