Dr. Robert F. Swift (Director)

In the fall of 1979 Robert Swift was first invited to conduct the Pemigewasset Choral Society; he has continued on the podium ever since. A native of upstate New York, he earned his Baccalaureate degree at Hartwick College, and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at the Eastman School of Music. After six years as a public school music teacher, he was appointed to the music faculty first at the Eastman School of Music and then Memphis State University. He now is Professor of Music at Plymouth State University.

Dr Swift has guest-conducted touring choirs in Australia, New Zealand, and South America. Under his direction the Pemi has performed on international short-wave radio, at an Eastern Division MENC Conference, at the State House in Concord, and on tour of all eastern Canadian provinces except for Newfoundland. Dr Swift is a church organist, author, composer, and the recipient of four distinguished teaching awards. His book Teaching Moments: Selected Memories of PSU Faculty was published by PSU in Fall 2005.

Margot W. Swift (Accompanist)

Margot Swift received her Baccalaureate degree at Hartwick College and her M.A. degree at the University of Rochester. She has been a music educator in public schools in New York State and Tennessee.   Most recently she served on the faculty of the Music, Theatre, and Dance Department at Plymouth State as accompanist, director of the Handbell Ringers, and teacher of music education classes. She has been piano accompanist for the Pemi Choral Society for the past 27 years. Other piano accompanying credits include touring choirs in Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South America, along with numerous festival choirs in New England, New York State, and the mid South.