Haberlen, John B. (1940-) | University of Illinois Archives

John Black Haberlen (1940- ) began his career in music at age 16, performing as a percussionist with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra in Wheeling, Pennsylvania. He received his bachelors degree in music education from Pennsylvania State University in 1962, working briefly as a director of high school choirs in Pennsylvania. After graduating with his masters degree from Penn State in 1963, he served as principal timpanist with the Florida Symphony Orchestra. In 1973, he earned his doctorate in choral conducting at the University of Illinois, where he studied with Harold Decker and served as assistant conductor of the Concert Choir. Upon graduating from Illinois, he studied choral music and opera in Ludwigsburg, Germany, which was followed by a year of study with the London Bach Society. During this time he taught at the American School in London. In 1975, Haberlen became the director of choral activities at Georgia State University. During this time, he also served as the director of music at the Roswell United Methodist Church. He served as the president of the ACDA Southern region from 1987-1989 and ACDA national president from 1993-1995.

Haberlen gave his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall in 1990, leading a performance of Poulenc's Gloria. This was followed by a series of concerts at New York's Lincoln Center in 1996. From 1996 to 2007, Haberlen served as the director of the School of Music at Georgia State University.