Dr. Casey J. Hayes

Dr. Casey J. Hayes is a 2021 Fulbright Scholar to Vienna, Austria and Professor of Music at Franklin College, in Franklin, IN, where he Chairs the Music Department, holds the AJ Thurston Endowed Chair of Music and conducts the FC Singers, Women’s Chorus and Men’s Chorus and A Cappella Women’s Ensemble.  In addition to his work at Franklin College, Dr. Hayes is the Artistic Director of the Quarryland Men’s Chorus, an ensemble of LGBTQ+ men and their straight allies.  Prior to his FC appointment in 2009, he served as the Chair of the Creative Arts Department as well as the Choral and Band Director of The Hewitt School in New York City, a private school for girls on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.  Casey began playing the piano at age 7 under legendary teachers Armilla Zix Wilson and Edgar Roberts of The Juilliard School.  He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Music Education and Choral Conducting from Butler University, where he studied with acclaimed choral conductor Henry Leck and composer/arranger James Quitman Mulholland.

Casey received his Ph.D. in Music Education from the Steinhardt School of Education, New York University, in 2009. His doctoral research focused on Educational Outreach within Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Choruses.  His studies of the GLBT Choral Movement led him to be the Music Director of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, as well as Musical Director of The New York City Ambassador Chorus, which is the outreach arm of the NYCGMC.  In 2007, Casey founded the Gay Men’s Chorus of Manhattan, an ensemble focused upon raising funds for Not-for Profit organizations in need; the first community chorus of its kind in the country.  Dr. Hayes is also the past Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus.

Casey is in worldwide demand as a clinician and speaker on issues facing GLBT community choruses. He has made many recent presentations throughout the United States, Canada, and the UK, and he presents papers at many professional conferences, including (for example) the 27th World Conference of the International Society for Music Education in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the 33rd World Conference of the International Society for Music Education in Glasgow, Scotland, and was selected to present at the 35th World Conference of the International Society for Music Education in Helsinki, Finland (cancelled). His international work within the world of community choruses led him to be a founding member of the North American Coalition for Community Music.  His scholarly works include two publications with Routledge Press on issues facing Music Education within the GLBT paradigm. He is currently researching the life and music of Weimar-Era cabaret performer Willy Rosen and his “Theater des Prominenten” with a book deal currently in the works.

His 2021 Fulbright Award, entitled Rosa Wien: Gay Rights, Schlager and Self-Exile: 1933-1938 explores the history and gay community of Vienna prior to the Anschluß as seen through the eyes of gay Weimar cabaret performer Paul O’Montis.

In addition to championing the causes of the GLBT choral movement, Casey also served as Musical Director for Tony Award-winning Broadway actress Joanna Gleason.  In his spare time, Dr. Hayes adjudicates high school marching bands and show choirs around the Midwest.  Dr. Hayes is an avid collector of Antique Musical Beer Steins and early musical instruments.

Professional affiliations include the Board of the New York State Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the International Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses) and the Board of Advisors for the Chicago Arts Orchestra. He has professional affiliations with the ACDA, the Music Educators National Conference, Chorus America, Phi Delta Theta National Fraternity, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the New York State School Music Association, and Stein Collectors International.