R. Gary Lamprecht,
Director of the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble
Gary Lamprecht has been a school teacher since 1973. He has taught 7th through 12th grade choral music on California's Central Coast at Laguna Middle School Morro Bay High School and San Luis Obispo High School. Under his direction, the choirs have collected numerous Superior and Command Performance awards in both traditional choral and vocal jazz festivals.
Mr. Lamprecht received his education at Long Beach City College with Wayne B. Gard, California State University at Long Beach, with Wes Reed and Frank Pooler and at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo with John Russell.
Mr. Lamprecht was honored as the first "Teacher of the Year" for the San Luis Coastal Unified School District in 1985, and again in 1999. He was also selected as County Teacher of the Year for the 1998-99 school year. Mr. Lamprecht has also been honored by being selected as a California State Mentor Teacher.
In addition to teaching high school choir classes, Mr. Lamprecht is the Director of the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble, a 50-voice adult choir with remarkable international acclaim.
Gary Lamprecht is married to Patricia, who sings in the San
Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble, and who plays viola in the San
Luis Obispo Symphony. They have twin daughters, Carey and Amber,
who play violin and oboe, and a son, Darby, who plays trumpet.
The San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble was founded in Fall, 1977, under the direction of conductor Gary Lamprecht. The ensemble is a 40-50 voice community adult choir which has achieved remarkable worldwide acclaim.
Its first significant success occurred in 1982, when the group was awarded first place for the State of California in the Great American Choral Festival. The Vocal Arts Ensemble toured England, Wales, France, Belgium, and Germany in the summer of 1985. The highlight of the tour was a third place award in the international competition at the 34th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales. Concerts by the choir were aired on BBC Television and on Belgian National Radio.
In 1988, the Vocal Arts Ensemble again toured Great Britain and Scotland with performances in six great cathedrals. The highlight of this tour was a return to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and the ovation of over 5,000 listeners in the evening guest concert.
In June and July of 1991 the singers of Vocal Arts sang in ten performances for thousands of people in Russia and Poland. This tour of Eastern Europe was organized as an outreach by the American "Friendship Ambassadors" and the Chancellor to the Senate of Poland. In addition to the wonderful performances and broadcasts on Polish television, another high point was the chance to stay in the homes of the Polish people for one week.
June and July of 1995 saw the ensemble touring Central Europe Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Austria. While in Austria, the VAE competed in the Spittal International Choral Festival. Out of the hundreds of auditions submitted, the finalists were narrowed to the top 11 choirs, representing 11 countries. The Vocal Arts Ensemble was selected to represent the USA, and finished 4th in the competition.
The group was again been selected to represent the United States at the Llangollen International Choral Festival in the summer of 1999. The ensemble toured Ireland, England and Wales on the way to the competition, and performed for the public at the esteemed Friday evening performance before an audience of thousands.
In the summer of 2,000, the Vocal Arts Ensemble participated in the Powell River, B.C., Canada Kathaumixw, an international choral competition and festival. The group placed second in the Folk Competition at that event.
In 2004, the group was again invited to participate in the Spittal, Austria, International Choral Festival. With 45 voices, the group placed second in the folk competition, and fifth in the traditional competition. On that tour the group also performed five concerts in northern Italy and Slovenia.
