Rate My Professor Bryce Hayes

Dr. W. Bryce Hayes is a Professor and Associate Director of Choral Activities at James Madison University (JMU), where he plays a key role in the Arts and Culture faculty through the School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Hailing from New Jersey, Hayes obtained his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from the University of Minnesota, Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Temple University, and Bachelor of Music degree in music education summa cum laude from Westminster Choir College. Upon completing his undergraduate education, he taught high school choir at Princeton Day School. Hayes sustains an active professional career encompassing conducting, teaching, church music, piano performance, accompanying, and singing. He holds certification as a Kodály educator and currently coordinates worship music and directs the choir at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

At JMU, Hayes instructs undergraduate and graduate courses in choral conducting, graduate choral literature, and music education, and he contributes to musical theatre shows and operas. He conducts the University Chorus Tenor/Bass Ensemble, Treble Chamber Choir, and University Men’s Chorus, while also directing the civic chamber choir Winchester Musica Viva. Recognized as an accomplished adjudicator and clinician, Hayes leads honors choirs and conducts workshops. In 2018, the College of Visual and Performing Arts at JMU awarded him the Distinguished Teacher of the Year honor. His research interests focus on strategies to improve musicianship among secondary and collegiate choirs, the role of gender within choral ensembles, and promoting creativity in the choral classroom. Hayes has served on the ChangeMaker Mindset Implementation Task Force at JMU, demonstrating his commitment to institutional advancement.