Ronald J Staheli’s contributions to choral music spanned forty years between Wichita State University (1975-1978) and Brigham Young University (1978-2015). Staheli’s desire to create beauty and the finest choral music experience for his students guided his work at BYU. In 1984, Staheli founded the Brigham Young University Singers, a choral ensemble that has been invited to perform for national conferences of NCCO, ACDA, NAfME, and the World Symposium on Choral Music.

This study documents Staheli’s musical upbringing in southern Utah, his education at BYU and the University of Southern California, and initial years teaching at WSU and BYU prior to the creation of BYU Singers. The study documents the formation of BYU Singers and Staheli’s vision for that ensemble, exploring the BYU Singers’ 1) Psyche as defined by Staheli, 2) mission and goals, 3) unified artistry, tone, and diction, 4) tours to twenty-nine countries and thirty-two US states over a thirty-one year period, 5) repertoire, 6) and discography. Finally, the study offers an in-depth look into Staheli’s musical philosophies, his motivation, his service, his approach to conducting, his rehearsals, and his thirty published arrangements and compositions.