Dr. Alan Raines, DMA • Conductor • Organist • Educator • Arranger
Dr. Alan Raines is an American conductor, organist, and educator whose work spans higher education, sacred music leadership, and the professional choral stage. He is recognized for shaping vibrant choral communities, championing elegant, text-driven performances, and cultivating singers through humane, high-expectation pedagogy.
Raines’ university career includes a distinguished tenure as Director of Choral Activities at Baylor University (Waco, TX), where he led the A Cappella Choir, revitalized the program’s touring tradition, and—during his tenure at Baylor—held the Mary Gibbs Jones Professorship of Music. Under his direction, the A Cappella Choir undertook notable regional and national tours and recorded "Grace Before Sleep."
Before Baylor, Raines served as Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music at Stetson University (DeLand, FL), conducting the select Concert Choir and the 250-voice Choral Union while teaching conducting and administering a broad choral program. Earlier posts include the University of La Verne (CA) and Georgia State University, where he conducted the University Singers and helped steward a program with a strong national profile.
In the sacred music sphere, Raines has led large, multi-choir ministries and collaborative concert series, most prominently as Director of Music & Arts at Highland Park United Methodist Church (Dallas, TX). His appointment there in 2015 followed seven years of collegiate leadership at Baylor, expanding his portfolio of oratorio and community collaborations.
An active guest conductor and clinician, Raines has led all-state and honor choirs across more than 35 U.S. states, with invitations that have included international engagements. Among his most memorable podium highlights was the historic first performance of Handel’s Messiah in Suzhou, China, introducing one of the most enduring masterworks of the Western canon to new audiences, and reflecting Raines’ dedication to building cultural bridges through choral music.
A dedicated arranger and advocate for poetry-driven choral writing, Raines’ catalogue—published by Alliance Music Publications and Walton Music—features refined choral transcriptions of art songs and chansons by Debussy, Fauré, Strauss, and Brahms. These include Nuit d’étoiles (Debussy), Les Roses d’Ispahan (Fauré), Morgen! (Strauss), and Von ewiger Liebe (Brahms), works prized by treble and mixed ensembles for their singability, clarity of line, and faithful prosody.
Alan Raines’ discography reflects both his command of traditional repertoire and his advocacy for contemporary choral music. His recordings include Grace Before Sleep with the Baylor A Cappella Choir as well as a critically noted performance of Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, captured at the historic church of St Étienne-du-Mont in Paris during the choir’s European tour. That release also features Ēriks Ešenvalds’ Stars and Jonathan Dove’s Seek Him That Maketh the Seven Stars, highlighting Raines’ ability to bring depth and resonance to works that span centuries of choral tradition. His recorded footprint is aggregated across major streaming services.
Formally trained in both conducting and organ, Raines earned the M.M. and D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from UCLA, where he studied with Donald Neuen and served as Assistant Conductor of the Angeles Chorale; he also completed an M.M. in Organ Performance at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. These dual foundations inform his signature blend of textual insight, stylistic nuance, and organ-choral literacy.
Professional memberships include ACDA and NAfME (formerly MENC), as well as Pi Kappa Lambda; his teaching and clinic work continue to reach conductors and choirs across the United States.
In 2025, Raines began a new chapter in Dallas as Music Director and Organist at the Episcopal Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, where he is developing a program that integrates liturgical excellence, choral training, and community-facing musical outreach.
Baylor University — Director of Choral Activities; Mary Gibbs Jones Professor of Music; national/regional touring and recordings with the A Cappella Choir. During Raines' tenure, the overall program expanded from 250 singers to over 850 in the total choral program.
Stetson University — Director of Choral Activities; conductor of Concert Choir and Choral Union; conducting faculty/administrator. During Raines' tenure, the overall program expanded from 200 singers to 400 in the total choral program.
Guest Conducting/Clinics — All-state/honor choirs in 35+ states; international invitations including China (Messiah, Suzhou).
Publications & Arrangements — Walton & Alliance (Debussy, Fauré, Strauss, Brahms), widely programmed by treble and mixed choirs.
Church Music Leadership — Director of Music & Arts, Highland Park UMC (Dallas); current Music Director & Organist, St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church (Dallas).