As students watch tonight's 48th annual Grammy Awards, they may notice that Penn State is represented into two categories.

Christopher Kiver, assistant professor of music and the director of the Penn State Glee Club and Penn State Chamber Singers, helped prepare Songs of Innocence and Experience, a choral/orchestra work composed by William Bolcom and released by Naxos. As one of the choir directors for the recording, Kiver is eligible to win two Grammy Awards tonight: best choral performance and best classical album.

Kiver worked on the piece at the University of Michigan last spring when he was working toward his doctoral degree in choral conducting. As a graduate assistant, he was responsible for directing the University Choir.

Kiver said he was surprised when he discovered the piece was nominated for a Grammy Award.

"You don't even consider that you could be nominated," Kiver said.

He said he's not sure whether or not his awards will be presented during the live ceremony, but he is looking forward to watching the broadcast of the show.

"It will be fun just to sit back and watch and see what happens," he said.

Kiver said he knows the nomination will not change him as a person. He said his goal for any choir is for it to sing at the highest level possible.

"I hope that I can produce students who are good conductors and who have knowledge and passion to inspire future singers in their careers," Kiver said.

Seven months ago, Sue Haug, the School of Music director, came to Penn State and went through staff orientation with Kiver. She said the nomination is a win-win situation and looks forward to collaborating with Kiver this spring.

"[Kiver] is a wonderful teacher and a student-centered person," Haug said. "He puts the students first, and he is a great addition to our faculty."

James Kelley (graduate-choral conducting) is in a class taught by Kiver and also works with him in the Chamber Singers.

"[Kiver] has brought a new life to the music program," Kelley said. "He's bringing new ideas and perspectives on how to perform music."

Given Kiver's extensive graduate studies at the University of Michigan, Kelley said he wasn't surprised to hear about Kiver's Grammy nomination.

"Penn State is lucky to have him on the faculty," he said.

Kelley also said he enjoys working with him and that Kiver aims for the best product possible.

Glee Club President J. Michael Curci said the Grammy nomination lends even more credibility to Kiver's already impressive resume.

"[Kiver] is really dedicated," Curci said. "He really wanted to set the tone for the Glee Club."

Elizabeth Colpo (graduate-music education) said she had Kiver for an intermediate choral conducting class last semester. Colpo said Kiver was willing to put in the extra time and instruction for his students.

"I would say [Kiver] is one of the most passionate and generous professors I've ever had," she said. "He's extremely talented at conducting, and he really cared how each of us did in the class."

Colpo said she also thinks that the ensembles Kiver directs have grown a lot.

"I think that in his first semester here, he's raised the bar," she said. "He's constantly thinking of ways to improve our education."