Timothy Seelig

Timothy Seelig is conductor, singer, teacher and motivational speaker. In addition to Artistic Director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, he continues a busy guest-conducting schedule throughout the U.S. and across the globe. He is Conductor Emeritus of the Turtle Creek Chorale, which he conducted for 20 years, co-founded The Women’s Chorus of Dallas and taught on the faculty at Southern Methodist University for 14 years.

Dr. Seelig holds four degrees, including the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas and the Diploma from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He has authored numerous books and DVDs on choral technique including best-sellers The Perfect Blend, and The Perfect Rehearsal as well as The Perfect Choral Workbook, Quick Choral Fixes and The Music Within. Recordings have won multiple awards and have been on Billboard Top Ten and iTunes Top Ten classical charts. The PBS documentary about his chorus received the national Emmy award for best documentary.

In addition to conducting and writing, he has commissioned choral works for a variety of amazing organizaions. Some of those are amfAR (The American Foundation for AIDS Research), the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation featuring Dr. Maya Angelou and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital featuring Marlo Thomas. His most recent commission was “Tyler’s Suite,” for the Tyler Clementi Foundation. “I Am Harvey Milk,” commissioned for the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus is now being performed around the world.

Dr. Seelig’s early training was as a singer. He made his European operatic debut at the Staatsoper in St. Gallen, Switzerland and his solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall. He appeared as soloist in world premieres of composers including John Corigliano, Conrad Susa and Peter Schickele (P.D.Q. Bach).

Dr. Seelig has conducted regularly at Carnegie Hall for the last 25 years, and recently made his conducting debut at Lincoln Center and the Southbank Centre in London. Interesting facts include conducting the Guinness Book Of World Record’s Longest Choral Concert and carrying the Olympic torch in 1996 as a community Hero. He has not run since.

Known for his enthusiasm and sense of humor, Grammy Magazine says, “Dr. Seelig takes eclecticism to new heights.” Fanfare Magazine says he raises singers from “the ranks of amateur choir to one receiving wide recognition for excellent performances of appealing, fresh repertoire.” The New York Times calls Seelig an “expressive performer,” and the Fort Worth Star Telegram quips, “Seelig slices a thick cut of ham.”

He is the proud grandfather of the amazing Clara Skye and lives in San Francisco with his husband, Dan.