Emily Crocker

Emily Holt Crocker taught public school music at all levels for 15 years in Texas. In 1989, she joined Hal Leonard, the largest publisher of choral and classroom publications in the world, becoming Vice President of Choral Publications in 2000, and retiring in 2017 after 29 years. She now resides in her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, and enjoys composing, volunteering, consulting and participating in cultural activities in the area.

As a composer, Ms. Crocker’s works have been performed around the world and she has received ASCAP awards for concert music since 1986. She is well known for her work in developing choral instructional materials and is an author and senior editor of Voices in Concert, choral textbook series for grades 6-12.

She founded the Milwaukee Children’s Choir and directed that group from 1994-2009. While under her leadership, the choir grew from 35 members to over 400 and received acclaim for performances with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, the American Choral Directors Association, and internationally at festivals around the world. In addition, she established the MCC Harmony Program, with music instruction offered through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Public Schools. In 2019 she was named Music Director Emeritus of the MCC.

In 2009 she founded the Vocal Arts Academy of Milwaukee, a youth choir for grades 7-12, dedicated to the performance of outstanding choral literature of all eras and styles, leading that group until 2015.

The Civic Music Association of Milwaukee awarded her the Distinguished Citizen Award – Professional in the Arts in 2009. She was named Honored Alumna for 2009 by the University of North Texas College of Music and in 2017 received the Outstanding Service Award from the Texas Choral Directors Association. In 2019 she was inducted into the Fort Worth Independent School District Wall of Fame.