Tim Seelig
Tim Seelig is a conductor, speaker, author, and educator. He is currently Artistic Director of Portland Sage Singers as well as Conductor Laureate of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and Conductor Emeritus of the Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Seelig holds four degrees, including a Diploma from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. He has seven books and DVDs on choral technique, several best-sellers, and his memoir, published in 2020. He made is operatic debut in St. Gallen, Switzerland and had been conducting at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center for over 30 years.
His recordings have been on Billboard Top Ten and iTunes Top Ten classical charts. His choruses have been the topic of three documentaries. The first on PBS, "After Goodbye: An AIDS Story" won the national EMMY for best documentary. The 2nd, "The Power of Harmony," won Best Documentary at the USA Film Festival. The latest, "Gay Chorus Deep South" won the Audience Favorite award at its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival and is currently streaming on Paramount+.
Throughout his 35 years conducting LGBTQ+ choruses, he has commissioned a long list of choral works. In 1991, he commissioned the first AIDS Requiem, "When We No Longer Touch," benefitting amfAR (The American Foundation for AIDS Research). In 2000, he commissioned "Sing for the Cure" for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation featuring Dr. Maya Angelou. "Wisdom of Old Turtle" benefitted St. Jude Children's Research Hospital featuring Marlo Thomas as narrator. Recent commissions include "Testimony" by Stephen Schwartz, "Tyler's Suite" for the Tyler Clementi Foundation featuring 9 composers, "New Year's Carol" and "Sanctuary" by Ola Gjeilo, "I Am Harvey Milk" and "Unbreakable: by Andrew Lippa and "#twitterlieder" by James Eakin. The most recent commission is "Songs of the Phoenix" created by 13 diverse librettists and composers
In addition to guest-conducting, he now spending time on the speaking stage, winning the Moth Grand Slam and a TEDx Talk with over 100k views.
Fun facts include having conducted the Guinness Book of World Record's Longest Choral Concert and carried the Olympic torch as a community Hero. He has not run since.
He is the proud grandfather of the amazing Clara Skye, Eden Mae, Cora Rose, Ivy Hope.
