Dr. Neal W. Woodruff (ONU, ’91) joined the ONU faculty 2000, serving as professor in the Department of Music.  Dr. Woodruff is the conductor of the University Orchestra, Testament Men’s Choir, Concert Singers, and the Handbell Choir.  Other teaching responsibilities include applied voice/pedagogy (both classical and contemporary), opera/music theatre, applied conducting, church music, and music history.  Prior to his appointment at Olivet, Dr. Woodruff served on the faculties of Malone College (Canton, OH), Southern Nazarene University (Bethany, OK), and the Herscher (IL) school district.  In addition he has maintained numerous full and part-time church positions in Illinois, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas, currently serving at College Church of the Nazarene, Bourbonnais, IL.

Dr. Woodruff completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting at the University of Oklahoma, where he was a student of Dennis Shrock and Alan Ross.  Previous studies culminated in the M.M. in voice performance/pedagogy from Stephen F. Austin State University, and a B.A. in music education from Olivet.  He has been a student of David Jones, Deborah Dalton, Jeannette LoVetri, and Terry Eder.  He has also participated in master classes with Richard Miller, Fiora Contino, Paul Kiesgen, and John Keenan.

Dr. Woodruff currently serves as the Illinois Governor for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), and as the chorus master for the Sugar Creek Opera Festival.  A former understudy soloist with the Chicago Symphony, Woodruff has performed under the baton of Sir Georg Solti, Margaret Hillis, Zubin Mehta, and James Levine.  He maintains an active schedule as performer, clinician and adjudicator.  Recent performances include Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Verdi’s La Traviata, and L’Elisir D’Amore by Donizetti.

Dr. Woodruff resides in Kankakee with wife Shannon and children Ryan, and Kayelyn.