Frank Pooler facts for kids
Frank Mairich Pooler (born March 29, 1926 – died January 19, 2013) was an American choir director. He was in charge of choral studies at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). He also worked with the famous pop music group The Carpenters.
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Frank Pooler: A Master of Choral Music
Frank Pooler was well-known in the music world. He was an expert in modern choir music. He traveled a lot, leading choirs, teaching, and judging music competitions. He visited places like the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
He wrote and arranged over 500 pieces of music. These works have been performed in many countries. Frank Pooler also wrote articles about choir music for important music magazines.
Early Life and Education
Frank Pooler was born and grew up in Onalaska, Wisconsin. When he was still in high school in 1943, he started the first children's choir at First (Norwegian) Lutheran Church.
He went to St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. There, he fell in love with choir music. He sang under a famous choir director named Olaf Christiansen.
In 1953, Frank studied music in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. He worked with composers from these countries. This led to more than 100 Scandinavian choir songs being published in English. In 1955, he was named a Fellow of the American-Scandinavian Foundation.
A Career in Choral Directing
After college, Frank worked as a music director at a church in Albert Lea, Minnesota. He then earned his master's degree from the University of Iowa.
He spent several happy and productive years working at Shimer College in Illinois. After that, he worked briefly at New Trier High School in Chicago.
In 1959, he got a call from a friend asking him to come to California. He moved to Long Beach to work at Long Beach State University (now CSULB). He started the Department of Choral Music there. He taught at CSULB for 28 years, retiring in 1988.
In the mid-1970s, he also taught summer classes at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. He taught advanced classes as part of a special choir program.
Working with The Carpenters
Richard Carpenter played piano for Frank Pooler's University Choir at CSULB. A few years later, Karen Carpenter also joined the choir. In 1969, she recorded songs like "Goodnight" and "Crescent Noon" with the choir. Karen's parents even hired Frank to give Karen music lessons.
Richard Carpenter later wrote the music for the song "Merry Christmas Darling." Frank Pooler had written the words for this song when he was just 18 years old.
Karen Carpenter once said that "Merry Christmas Darling" was very special to her and Richard. She explained that Frank Pooler was very helpful when they were trying to get a music contract. He understood their goals and supported them. She loved performing the song with the choir, and Frank would "glow" when they did.
Awards and Recognitions
The Frank Pooler Collection is an album that contains many of his published works. It includes hundreds of choir songs he wrote, arranged, or edited. The collection also has articles by or about Frank Pooler that appeared in magazines and newspapers.
He also helped write three books: "The New Choral Notation, " "Sound and Symbol," and "Choralography - an Experience in Sound and Movement. " His special music collections, like the "Frank Pooler Editions," feature works by important composers from different countries.
In 1984, the King of Norway gave him the St. Olav's Medal. This award recognized his important contributions to Norwegian music in the United States. He also received the Sunni Award in Australia for his work on an album called "SCAT!" In 2006, he was honored at a big choir convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Personal Life
Frank Pooler passed away on January 19, 2013. He died from lung cancer at his home in Los Alamitos, California.
