Date: Fri 17-Sep-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

CCS-Liepold-Choral-Society

Full Text:

Choral Society Introduces Its New Music Director

On Saturday, September 11, the Connecticut Choral Society introduced John

Robert Liepold as its new music director and conductor, effective immediately.

The announcement was made during a press conference in the Mary Hawley Room at

Edmond Town Hall in Newtown.

Steven Tyler, the president of the society's board of directors, said, "John

Liepold will help build on our past successes and launch us into a new and

exciting era.

"We will all delighted that he will be joining us in this, our twentieth

anniversary season."

Recognized by Carnegie Hall as one of the "rising generation of choral

leaders," Maestro Liepold was invited to take part in the 8th Annual Carnegie

Hall Professional Conductors' Workshops with the acclaimed conductor Robert

Shaw.

In addition to his work with Maestro Shaw, Maestro Liepold has studied and

performed with many of the world's leading conductors including Gregg Smith,

Robert Page and Dennis Keene, among others. As a three-time Chorus America

Conducting Fellow, Maestro Liepold has also conducted The Voices of Ascension

and The Gregg Smith Singers.

He remains an active choral singer, having sung for many years with The Robert

Shaw Festival Chorus and more recently as a founding member of The Dennis

Keene Festival Chorus.

Mr Liepold has led vibrant choral programs in a number of academic and

parochial situations in Connecticut, New York and Virginia. He received

critical acclaim for his work with the University of Virginia Men's Glee Club,

with whom he made several recordings. He also commissioned and premiered a

dozen major new additions to the club's repertoire.

Choruses under Mr Liepold's direction have given command performances for

President Clinton. They have also appeared on NBC's Today show, National

Public Radio's "Performance Today," Virginia Public Radio and Voice of

America.

John Liepold is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, where he

majored in music and English. He has done graduate work at Columbia

University, University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music, and

Westminster Choir College.

In addition to his duties as music director of the 120-voice Connecticut

Choral Society, Mr Liepold will also direct its a cappella ensemble, The

Chamber Singers.

The Choral Society began rehearsals this week at South Britain Congregational

Church in Southbury for its twentieth anniversary season. The group will

present its annual holiday performances on Friday, December 10, and Sunday,

December 12, at St Rose of Lima Church in Newtown.