Mansfield University Home Page
The Alumni Citation Award, established in 1969, recognizes contributions to society through professional, civic, and philanthropic work and leadership activities. After graduating with a BS in Music in 1957, Stretansky earned his Master’s in Music at Temple. He did additional study at the Meadowbrook School of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan and at Cambridge University in England.
Stretansky is Director of Choral Activities at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, where he holds the Stretansky Distinguished Professorship Chair in Choral Music. He has received national recognition as the conductor of the Susquehanna University Choir as a result of its tours and numerous broadcasts for the Lutheran and Presbyterian Series of the Protestant Hour; a program heard weekly over 500 radio stations in the United States. His Susquehanna Choirs have also recorded 18 volumes of choral literature.
In 2003 Susquehanna University honored Stretansky by dedicating the Concert Hall of their new Center for Music and Arts in his name. He has completed a 24-year tenure as music director and conductor of the Susquehanna Valley Chorale and the Orchestra of the Susquehanna Valley Chorale, during which time he conducted over 70 major choral works scored for soloists and chorus with orchestra. Stretansky’s credits as a guest conductor, choral clinician, adjudicator and baritone soloist are extensive and encompass a wide geographical area including 14 states, Canada, Mexico, France and Italy.
He has served as artistic director and principal conductor of the International Music Festival in Italy where he conducted massed festival choirs at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Cathedral of Florence, St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice and the Cathedral of Milan. He received the John C. Horn Award for distinguished scholarship and service to Susquehanna University in 1987 and in 1988 was named to the first Music Department Honor Roll of Mansfield University.
Sigma Alpha Iota, a national professional music fraternity, recently named him a National Arts Associate and in 1995 the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association awarded him a citation for excellence in teaching for higher education. Stretansky was recently honored by the American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania as the ninth recipient of the prestigious Elaine Brown Award for distinguished artistic leadership and choral conducting excellence.