• Former Director ad interim - Christopher Aspass (2022-23)
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    A national search process was initiated by Symphony leadership in the Fall of 2021, when Chorus Director Joshua Habermann announced his intention to step down after the 2021-22 season. The final rehearsals of the 2021-22 season, for which the Chorus was preparing performances of the Beethoven Symphony No. 9 "Choral," were led by the first of a number of potential director candidates, as were rehearsals and concert preparation opportunities throughout the 2022-23 season.

    Christopher Aspaas serves as Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music at TCU. Christopher received his Ph.D. in Choral Music Education at The Florida State University in Tallahassee, his M.M. in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University in East Lansing, his B.M. in Voice Performance from St. Olaf. Christopher has served on the faculties of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington and Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

    At TCU, Christopher leads the Concert Chorale, TCU’s flagship mixed ensemble as well as the FrogCorps, TCU’s premier male vocal ensemble. He also teaches coursework in basic conducting, choral conducting, choral literature, advanced choral conducting and oversees the graduate choral conducting program.

    His travels as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator and lecturer have taken Christopher to Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ontario, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and three times to the Sultanate of Oman. He has conducted All-State Choruses in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia and Wisconsin as well as the British Columbia and Manitoba All-Province Honour Choirs. Additionally, Christopher led the All-Northwest Mixed Choir in 2015 and ACDA Southern Division Men’s Honor Choir in 2016. Most recently, Christopher travelled to South Korea to headline the 35th Annual International Symposium on Choral Music.

    Christopher has produced more than forty arrangements and compositions for mixed, men’s and women’s choirs. His works are published by Augsburg Fortress, earthsongs, Hal Leonard, and Aspen Hill Music. His latest commission premiered at the 2017 National Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    During the 2022-23 season, Dr. Aspaas prepared and rehearsed the Chorus leading up to various Classical concert weeks. His last rehearsal was in preparation of works by Orff - Carmina Burana & Catulli Carmina, which the Chorus performed in May 2023.
  • Former Director - Joshua Habermann (2011-2022)
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    The 2021/22 season marked Joshua Habermann’s eleventh and final year as Chorus Director in the Jean D. Wilson Chorus Director Chair of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, having been appointed in Fall 2011. His last official rehearsal with the Chorus took place on Monday, April 18, 2022, as they prepared for a performance of the Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in May 2022. As of this posting, Habermann was also in his thirteenth season as Artistic Director of The Desert Chorale, a nationally-acclaimed professional chamber choir based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

    Prior to his DSO appointment, Habermann was assistant conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, where he prepared the chorus for performances with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. Highlights with the DSO include performances of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Verdi’s Requiem, Berlioz’ Damnation of Faust, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, and Britten’s War Requiem, which was performed for the ACDA national convention in 2013. Recent international collaborations include performances of Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Duruflé’s Requiem with the Swedish Radio Orchestra, and tour performances in Spain, France, Sweden, Estonia and Finland.

    As a singer (tenor) Habermann has performed with the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus (Eugene, Oregon), and Conspirare (Austin, Texas). Recording credits include three projects with Conspirare: Through the Green Fuse, Requiem, a Grammy nominee for best choral recording, and Threshold of Night, a Grammy nominee for best choral recording and best classical album.

    Habermann has led honor choirs and choral festivals in North and Latin America, Europe and Asia. A passionate advocate for music education, Habermann has served on the faculties at San Francisco State University and the University of Miami, and worked with young singers and conductors in master classes and workshops throughout the United States and abroad. He also served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Texas from 2011 to 2021.

    A California native, Habermann is a graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Texas at Austin, where he completed doctoral studies in conducting with Craig Hella Johnson.
  • Former Director ad interim - Terry Price (2009-2010)
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    In a message to Chorus membership on September 18, 2009, Doug Adams, President of the Dallas Symphony Association, announced that Terry Price, Director of Music at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, had been named Interim Director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, effective immediately. Mr. Price served in this interim capacity until the search committee for a new permanent Dallas Symphony Chorus Director completed its work.

    Mr. Price has led choirs at the International Church Music Festival in Coventry, England; at the International Church Music Festival in Rome; the Cambridge Summer Music Festival in Cambridge, England; and the Christmas Eve Celebrations in Bethlehem, Israel. He has worked with many of the leading choral conductors, including Sir David Willcocks, John Rutter, Bob Chilcott, Tim Brown, Paul Leddington Wright and Andrew Carter.

    A native of Stephenville, Texas, Mr. Price holds the Master of Sacred Music Degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Tarleton State University. Before starting his position at Preston Hollow Presbyterian in 1998, Terry served as Director of Music at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas, and Plymouth Park United Methodist Church in Irving. He was given the Choral Excellence award by the Texas Choral Directors association in 2006 and Texas Choirmaster award in 2015.

    Mr. Price’s service to the Chorus as Director ad interim concluded with the concerts in Vail, CO with the DSO on July 8, 2010.
  • Former Director - David R. Davidson (1993-2009)
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    David R. Davidson passed away peacefully with family at his bedside on September 5, 2009, following a valiant, unwavering two-year battle with cancer.

    While he will be greatly missed, David’s musical heritage and dedication to artistic excellence will live on in the lives and performances of the thousands of musicians he touched not just in Dallas, but all over the world.

    A memorial service was held on September 10, 2009 in the Sanctuary of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. Music was provided by members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Chorus joining the HPUMC Chancel Choir conducted by DSO Music Director Jaap van Zweden and Ann Howard Jones of Boston University. HPUMC subsequently renamed it's annual Tower Arts Music Series, which David founded, in his name.

    Dallas classical radio station WRR 101.1 dedicated the No. 1 recording on their 2009 Classical Countdown to Mr. Davidson - the Beethoven Symphony No. 9 (recorded by the Chorus in 2004).

    DSO Music Director Emeritus Andrew Litton:
    “One of my first acts as Music Director of the Dallas Symphony turned out to be one of my best -- hiring David Davidson as Chorus Master. He transformed a good group of singers into a world class chorus -- one that brought glory to Dallas from the stages of Europe to Carnegie Hall. The collaborations I am proudest of during my Dallas years were the ones that involved the Chorus and David. His calm spirituality and focus were like a tonic to me, and I have never felt more support from any colleague. David's genius at achieving choral colors was unsurpassed and one of the great moments of my life was when I brought him to Bergen, Norway just this past November to prepare the Bergen Chorus for the Verdi Requiem I was conducting. By ten minutes into the first rehearsal, he had magically transformed that chorus from provincial to glorious! I had never heard such beauty before, and as tears streamed down my face, I felt such pride. Pride that I could share the talent of my friend David with 150 strangers, and that they were instantly touched by his greatness. I cannot imagine the scope of what David's loss will mean to Dallas, because I am much too consumed with what it means to me. I have lost a close friend. We used to joke about being "brothers from another mother," because even though we outwardly seemed like opposites, we were the only ones who knew how similar we were. We made each other better, and there are too few people in life that can do that for each other.”

    Maestro Claus Peter Flor:
    “About a colleague, for a master, to a friend! A conductor who wished to be working with David Davidson had to fulfill three unspoken conditions: absolute knowledge of choir music and anything that was necessary to achieve a faithful interpretation; knowledge of the beauty of the human voice, and how difficult it is to constantly renew that beauty; utmost confidence in his, David's, work in preparing the choir from the first rehearsal up to the actual concerts. If David felt he could entrust/lend "his choir" to a conductor, this "guest conductor" invariably met with success. David never offered, and certainly never imposed, his assistance to a conductor right away – he always waited for that conductor to show his willingness to appreciate David's great experience and profound humanity. For those who were able to win his friendship it was a wonderful gift. I was lucky to be among those to earn his friendship. It is a gift I will carry with me for the rest of my days ... and so Johannes Brahms' German Requiem once again impresses upon us its great and eternal significance: Great grief has befallen us in these days – and for many of us it is a very personal and private grief – but even with tears in our eyes we should, with great happiness, whisper to each other: it was a privilege to have known and accompanied him on his earthly journey, with his singing and his music making. Rise all, and bow with deepest gratitude.”


    David R. Davidson was appointed the Interim Director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus in January, 1993 before being appointed the fifth Director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus on December 1, 1994. (The Dallas Morning News stated that the Dallas Symphony Chorus in recent years has become one of the hallmark musical organizations of Dallas.) David R. Davidson became Director of Music and Arts at Highland Park United Methodist Church on November 1, 2003. He was an adjunct instructor of choral conducting and handbells at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Mr. Davidson served as Director of Music at Highland Park Presbyterian Church from 1985 – 2003. He was the visiting instructor of “Survey of Choral Literature” and “Choral Masterworks” at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. Mr. Davidson was chosen to be a Masterclass Conductor at the eighth International Choral Conductor’s Seminar in Brugge, Belgium, where he studied with Laszlo Heltay. He also studied with Robert Shaw, Dr. Lara Hoggard, and Sir David Willcocks in addition to graduate work in choral conducting at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music for which a scholarship was established in David's name.

    Davidson prepared the Dallas Symphony Chorus for performances with an international host of conductors, including Pinchas Zukerman, Eduardo Mata, Andrew Litton, Kazimierez Kord, Robert Shaw, Richard Hickox, Claus Peter Flor, John Nelson, Zubin Mehta, Gunther Herbig, Eve Queller and Kate Tamarkin. The Dallas Symphony Chorus released their first Christmas recording A Feast of Carols in December 1994. Andrew Litton, then Music Director of the Dallas Symphony, and David Davidson collaborated to record a Christmas CD of the Dallas Symphony and Chorus for Delos International titled A Dallas Christmas Gala as well as a 2004 live recording of the Beethoven Symphony No. 9 conducted by Claus Peter Flor. Mr. Davidson prepared the chorus to perform with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in July 1996 with Zubin Mehta conducting six performances of the Mahler Symphony No. 8. Mr. Davidson also prepared the DSC for four one-night-only performances with the Opera Orchestra of New York. The New York Times praised the chorus in all four performances as well as their performance of Walton's Belshazzar’s Feast with the Dallas Symphony, all at Carnegie Hall. Davidson prepared the chorus for a subsequent series of performances and recording of the Mahler Symphony No. 8 under the direction of Andrew Litton in May 2000. Preparation for other recordings include Porgy and Bess on Dorian, and the Moscow Cantata and 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky on the Delos label, released in 1996.

    Davidson conducted the chorus and orchestras during the DSC’s 2003 European tour which included the Stefansdom in Vienna, Smetena Hall in Prague, Ottobeuren Abbey, and the Liszt Conservatoire in Budapest. These performances were before packed audiences and received great acclaim from reviewers in each of those cities. The Dallas Symphony Chorus conducted by David R. Davidson performed with acclaim as a headliner ensemble for the 2001 National American Choral Directors Association Convention in San Antonio. The DSC also performed for the Texas Choral Directors Association. Mr. Davidson conducted the Highland Park Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir in performances for the American Choral Directors National Convention in Louisville, the Texas Choral Directors Association Convention, the 1994 American Guild of Organists National Convention, and as the featured choir for the 1990 International Church Music Festival in Coventry, England. 

    Mr. Davidson made his conducting debut with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in December 1996, stepping in at the last minute to conduct the final four Christmas Celebration Concerts when the conductor became ill. He then went on to conduct with acclaim the 1997-2008 Dallas Symphony Christmas Celebration concerts that included a live TV telecast as well as making his debut on the 1999 DSO Classical Subscription Series conducting four performance of Handel's Messiah. When stepping in for Andrew Litton to conduct the Fauré Requiem in May 2005, Scott Cantrell’s headline began with "….Davidson expertly steps in." Davidson made his Carnegie Hall debut in June 1998 conducting the Texas Festival Chorus and the Inter School Orchestra in a performance of the Mozart Requiem.

    A nationally recognized church music and choral clinician throughout the United States, Mr. Davidson chaired the Worship and Choral Music R & S Committee for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) as well as served as Vice-President of Church and Community Choirs for the Texas Choral Directors Association.


    In 2011, Mr. Davidson was added posthumously to the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) “Wall of Honor” and his entry can be viewed on this 2011 YouTube video at the 3:04 mark.

    DRD 2011 Wall of Honor

    DRD 2015 Wall of Honor

  • Former Director - Ronald L. Shirey (1983-1992)
    Ron Shirey, Chorus Director 1983-1992
    Ronald L. “Ron” Shirey led the DSC from July 1983 to December 1992 and was the fourth Director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus. The Chorus took its first international tour to Europe in the summer of 1985 with Shirey conducting concerts in Vienna, Salsburg, Ingolstadt and Leipzig. Under Shirey’s direction, the Chorus recorded Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, released in 1989, and performed at Carnegie Hall Christmas Concerts in 1988 and 1990.

    Shirey passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, November 1, 2009. A memorial service was held November 6, 2009 at University Christian Church in Fort Worth, TX, where Ron had been Choirmaster since 1976.
  • Former Director - Frank Sargent (1981-1983)
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    Frank Sargent (b. 1949 - d. 24 Nov 2020) was the third director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, taking the baton in August 1981, for the duration of the Chorus’ 5th and 6th seasons, until May 1983. Prior to his appointment, he was a member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus while studying to receive his B.A. in Music Education from North Park University. He completed a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Midwestern State University and did post-graduate work at SMU in Dallas, Baylor, and Westminster Choir College. Mr. Sargent also holds Kodaly Certificates, Levels I and II, from the University of North Texas.

    Following his time with the DSC, Mr. Sargent served as Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Richardson, TX, Director of Choral Music at Highland Park (TX) High School, and Choral Director with Gilbert (AZ) Public Schools. He also served as Choral Director of the Apache Wells Community Church in Mesa, AZ, and was an Adjunct Music Faculty Member at Mesa Community College. At the time of his death Frank was the University Supervisor of Choral Music Student Teachers at Northern Arizona University in Tempe, AZ and a member of the Arizona Chapter of the ACDA.

    Mr. Sargent was also a published composer/arranger of several works, and had been under contract with Oxford University Press since March 1988.

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-sargent-4763a156
  • Former Director - Stewart J. Clark (1978-1981)
    Stewart J Clark - Chorus Director 1978-1981
    Stewart J. Clark is a native of Scranton, PA and received his undergraduate training at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, where he studied conducting with Paul J. Christiansen. He completed his Masters and Doctorate in Choral Conducting at The University of Texas under Dr. Morris J. Beachy.

    While studying at The University of Texas, Dr. Clark was the director of the Longhorn Singers and the Varsity Singers, Supervisor of the Pop Choral Groups, and Assistant Director of the Austin Symphony Choral Union and the University of Texas Chamber Singers. Under his direction, the Longhorn Singers and the Varsity Singers performed numerous concerts in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex.

    Dr. Clark was also the Director of Choral Activities at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. During that time, he took the Tulane University Concert Choir on tour which included a performance at the International Schubert Music Festival in Vienna, Austria. In addition to his teaching and conducting duties, Dr. Clark was the Music Director for the Tulane Opera Theater production of Gilbert Sullivan’s Yeoman of the Guard, The Student Prince, and the chorus director for La Bohème. Dr. Clark initiated the successful annual Elizabethan Madrigal Dinner. He was also actively involved as adjudicator and clinician for various area-wide choral festivals for the Louisiana Music Educator’s Association.

    In addition to serving as director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus from 1978 to 1981, Dr. Clark also served as the Director of Choral Activities at The University of Texas at Dallas.
  • Assistant Conductor - Will McLean (2022-2023)
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    A native of Duluth, MN, William (Will) McLean is a music educator and conductor in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Currently, he is a DMA student in choral conducting at the University of North Texas where he studies with Dr’s Allen Hightower, Kristina MacMullen, and Jessica Nápoles. At UNT McLean has served as the conductor of the UNT Chorale and currently teaches undergraduate conducting. In addition to his responsibilities at UNT, McLean served as the Assistant Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Chorus for the 2022-23 season and served on the faculty at the University of Texas at Arlington as the conductor of the A Cappella Choir in Fall 2022. In May 2023, McLean was named to the choral faculty at Baylor University, his alma mater. Before his graduate studies, McLean most recently was the Director of Choirs at South Salem High School in Oregon. While at South Salem, the Symphonic Choir (SATB) was invited to perform at the 2019 National ACDA Convention in Kansas City, MO. Additionally, choirs at South Salem during his tenure received invitations to perform at the OMEA state music education conference and toured nationally.
     
    McLean has presented sessions at national, regional, and state ACDA, NAfME conferences, and the International Symposium for Research in Choral Singing. Topics of these presentations have included state and national choral programming trends, singer agency in choral environments, and pedagogical repertoire selection A fierce advocate for the creation of new music, McLean has collaborated with numerous composers in the commissioning of new choral works, including the likes of Mari Esabel Valverde, Paul John Rudoi, and Joshua Rist. As a proponent for furthering and advocating for choral music, McLean has served on the OMEA Executive Board as the Choral Chair and on the board of Oregon ACDA. 

    He holds a master’s degree in conducting from Baylor University where he graduated with departmental distinction and a bachelor’s degree in music education from St. Olaf College. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, running, hiking, and spending time with his wife Jenna, and their dog Hildy.
  • Assistant Conductor - Jordan Boyd (2020-2022)
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    Originally from Clover, South Carolina, Jordan D. Boyd is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of North Texas. Before coming to UNT, he served as the Director of Choral Activities at the Berkeley Center for the Arts at Goose Creek High School where he conducted the Varsity Voices, Treble Choir, and the award-winning Goose Creek Chamber Choir. He also taught music theory (including AP), music history, and music-directed annual musicals. Choirs under his direction have been praised for their “incredible precision and musicianship” and lauded as “ambassadors of technique for high school singers." During his tenure, the Goose Creek Chamber Choir presented performances at the annual conferences of the South Carolina American Choral Directors Association (SCACDA), the South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA), and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival.

    From 2015-2018 Boyd served as the Associate Music Director of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Chorus where he prepared the CSO Chamber Singers for annual performances of Handel’s The Messiah. From 2015-2020 he held the positions of Associate Conductor and Principal Bass for the Taylor Festival Choir, a professional chamber choir based in Charleston, SC. From 2018-2020, he was the Coordinator of the Lowcountry Region Choir for SCMEA and the Treble Choirs Chair for SCACDA. On May 25 2020, Jordan was introduced and welcomed as the next Assistant Conductor for the Dallas Symphony Chorus.

    Boyd holds a Bachelor's in Vocal Performance and Music Theory/Composition from the College of Charleston and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

    In May 2022, Jordan successfully completed his doctoral work at the University of North Texas. It was announced that he had been nominated as a Finalist in the American Prize Dale Warland Award in Choral Conducting and accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Choral Music at the University of Texas - San Antonio.
  • Assistant Conductor - Charlotte Botha (2019-2020)
    Charlotte Botha - Conducting Associate
    Charlotte Botha is an enthusiastic conductor, composer, ensemble singer and music teacher. She believes that choral music embraces difference and teaches us tolerance. Originally from Klerksdorp, South Africa, she embarked on an ambitious career as a pianist, percussionist, chorister and vocal soloist from the age of 6. She has had the privilege of singing under and learning from inspiring conductors and voice pedagogues from around the world.

    During her BMus (University of Pretoria, 2009) and MMus (Nelson Mandela University, 2014) she specialised in choral conducting with Johann van der Sandt, Junita Lamprecht-Van Dijk and Peter-Louis van Dijk as her mentors. As conductor of many well-known choirs, such as Pretoria High School for Girls Choir, Singkronies Chamber Choir, the Drakensberg Boys Choir, and the UNT Women’s Chorus, Charlotte cultivated a passion for group vocal technique. Charlotte attends choral conducting master classes as often as possible, and regularly presents workshops that promote the development of aural training skills through choral singing. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting Performance and Music Theory at the University of North Texas under the mentorship of Allen Hightower, Richard Sparks and Kristina MacMullen in May 2020. While at UNT, she was the choral librarian, and was selected in the Spring 2019 to serve as Assistant Conductor for the Dallas Symphony Chorus under Joshua Habermann. Her interests include badminton, foreign cuisine, the study of phonetics and learning new languages.

    In May 2020, Charlotte moved to upstate New York, where she was appointed to be the next Director of Choral Activities at Hamilton College in July 2020.


  • Assistant Conductor - Ryan Sullivan (2018-2019)
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    Ryan W. Sullivan is an active conductor and singer. He completed his doctoral studies in Choral Conducting in May 2019 at the University of North Texas where he studied conducting with Dr. Allen Hightower, continuo with Dr. Brad Bennight, and voice with William Joyner. Dr. Sullivan graduated from UNT with a cognate in Early Music Performance Practice and his dissertation will focus on choral music from 17th century Venice. Other research interests include pre-service teacher education and music editing.

    Sullivan served as the
    Assistant Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Chorus where he also worked as the Chorus Administrator, starting in 2017. During his time at UNT, Sullivan conducted the Collegium Singers, Baroque Orchestra, Men’s Chorus, was the Assistant Conductor of the A Cappella Choir, and taught undergraduate conducting. He has conducted world premieres of music by Robert Beaser as well as the North American premiere of the opera Le mariage d’Antonio by Lucille Grétry, the recording for which was featured on Radio Suisse. In 2018, he conducted the North American premiere of the opera Coronide by Vit Zouhar. He also served as Director of Music Ministries at Northway Christian Church in Dallas.

    As a professional choral singer he has performed with the Simon Carrington Chamber Singers, San Antonio Chamber Choir, The Cecilia Ensemble (GA). As a soloist, he has recently been seen as Pilate and the Bass soloist in productions of Bach’s St. John Passion, Siméon in Debussy’s L’Enfant Prodigue, and Bass soloist in Schubert’s Mass in G. In 2017 he made his first appearance at the Boston Early Music Festival in a chamber ensemble from UNT.

    Sullivan holds a master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Texas Tech University as well as bachelor’s degrees in Voice Performance and Music Education from the University of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory. Prior to his graduate studies, he taught choral music in Lee’s Summit, MO where he taught concurrently at two large high school programs. In 2014 he was named “Kansas City Metro Director of the Year” and received the “Prelude” Award from the Missouri Choral Directors Association. In 2018, he was the recipient of the “Adams-Nordstrom Early Music Award” at UNT for excellence in scholarship and performance. When not in the rehearsal hall, he is also an active editor and arranger, and has served in a variety of capacities for the American Choral Directors Association.

    In May 2019, Ryan was selected to be the Director of Choral Activities at
    Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and he started in June 2019.
  • Assistant Conductor - Lindsay Pope (2016-2018)
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    Lindsay Pope was named Assistant Conductor to the Dallas Symphony Chorus in Fall 2016, for which her work as chorusmaster was praised as “exemplary and well-prepared” (Texas Classical Review). She completed her doctorate in choral conducting in Spring 2018 at the University of North Texas, where she directed Concert Choir and served as assistant conductor of University Singers. In June 2018, Dr. Pope accepted an appointment as Visiting Director of Choral/Vocal Activities at Williams College in Williamstown, MA.
     
    From 2009-2016, Lindsay served as Director of Choral Ensembles and Lecturer in Music at Mount Holyoke College, where she conducted the Glee Club, Chorale, and Chamber Singers, and taught undergraduate conducting. Under her direction, the ensembles participated in tours in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and New Orleans, released a commercial CD, and performed at the American Choral Directors Association’s 2016 Eastern Division Conference. Lindsay was also active as Reading and Standards Chair for Women’s Choirs for the Massachusetts branch of ACDA, and appeared as a choral clinician for area children’s choruses and district choirs in Massachusetts and New York. Lindsay is passionate about exposing her students to choral music from a variety of genres, eras, and particularly cultures. She has traveled to Corsica and the Republic of Georgia with Village Harmony to study and perform traditional folk songs and chant.
     
    Lindsay was a frequent soloist with UNT Collegium and Baroque Orchestra
    , most recently as alto soloist for Bach’s St. John Passion. In June she represented UNT in a chamber ensemble at the Boston Early Music Festival. She is a founding member of Polyphonia, a 5-voice early music ensemble specializing in one-on-a-part singing of medieval and Renaissance repertoire.
     
    Lindsay completed her Masters at Westminster Choir College. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Mount Holyoke College, where she directed and sang in the V-8s, the oldest continuing female a cappella group.
  • Assistant Conductor - Dwight Jilek (2013-2016)
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    Dwight Jilek was selected to be the Assistant Conductor for the Dallas Symphony Chorus in the Fall 2013. He completed doctoral studies in Choral Conducting at the University of North Texas in May 2016 and also served as the conductor of the UNT Concert Choir. In 2015, Dwight took over as Chorus Administrator in addition to his duties as Conducting Associate of the Chorus. With over ten years of church music experience, Dwight also served as the Traditional Choir and Adult Handbell Choir director at St. Andrew Catholic Parish in Fort Worth.

    Prior to coming to Dallas, Dwight completed his Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting at Michigan State University, where he was the graduate assistant to the Men’s Glee Club and State Singers under Dr. Jonathan Reed, and the Chorus Master for the Opera Theatre Program. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where he studied conducting with Dr. René Clausen and was Assistant Conductor for the Concordia Choir.

    Dwight was vocal music director for six years (2005-2011) in Minnesota at Northfield High School where he oversaw five curricular and four extracurricular choirs, along with the curricular vocal lesson program. Under his direction, the Northfield Concert Choir was accepted by audition to perform in the inaugural Minnesota ACDA Choral Arts Finale (2006), the Dorian Choral Invitational (2007), the Minnesota State ACDA Convention (2007), the Minnesota MEA convention (2008), and was a featured choir at the St. Olaf Choral Festival (2009).

    Following his graduation from UNT in May 2016, Dr. Jilek accepted a position as Director of Choral Activities at Bemidji State University in Minnesota, where he moved in July 2016 with his wife, Alyssa, and three children.
  • Assistant Conductor - J.D. Burnett (2011-2013)
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    When Josh Habermann was named Chorus Director in 2010, he initiated a process that would identify and cultivate new choral conducting talent, and the result was the creation of the Assistant Conductor position with the Dallas Symphony Chorus. Students who are in the graduate choral conducting programs at area colleges and universities are eligible and invited to interview/audition for the position.

    J.D. Burnett was selected to be the first official Assistant Conductor for the Dallas Symphony Chorus, and he filled the position with the Chorus from Fall 2011 until he completed and earned his doctorate in choral conducting at the University of North Texas in Spring 2013. In May 2013, Dr. Burnett was named associate director of choral activities at the University of Georgia.

    In addition, J.D. is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Kinnara Ensemble, a chamber choir of professional singers in New Jersey. With Kinnara, he performs several concert repertoires a year in the greater NY and Philadelphia areas.

    Formerly, he served on the music staff of the New Jersey Youth Chorus, was Associate Conductor of the Masterwork Chorus of New Jersey, and was Acting Director of Choral Activities at Montclair State University.

    Prior to these appointments, he served as Interim Director of Choral Activities at San Jose State University, was Artistic Director of the New Jersey Chamber Singers, was Music Director of the Houston Masterworks Chorus, founded Men’s Consort Houston, and was a member of the choral music faculty at Kingwood High School in suburban Houston.

    Burnett did undergraduate study at Stanford University and Oklahoma State University. He holds a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College, where he sang in the Westminster Symphonic Choir and Westminster Kantorei, and served as Assistant Conductor of the renowned Westminster Choir.

    As a professional choral singer, Burnett has performed seasons, concerts, and recordings with the Stillwater Chamber Singers, Cantare Houston, The Santa Fe Desert Chorale, The Robert Shaw Festival Singers, Fuma Sacra, the Choir of Trinity Church Wall Street, the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, and Conspirare.
  • Former Chorus Pianist - Jeff Lankov (2016-2019)
    Jeff Lankov, Chorus Pianist 2016-19
    Jeff Lankov is only the second individual to be named Chorus Pianist for the Dallas Symphony Chorus, following the 38-year tenure of Jerry Stephens. Jeff officially took the chair at the piano when rehearsals began for the 2016-17 season. In May, 2019, Jeff announced to the Chorus that he was leaving his post to pursue other opportunities.

    Jeff has been hailed for his “alternately ferocious and sensitive” (New York Times), “muscular and moving” (Dallas Morning News) “performances of brilliance and dedication…there seems to be nothing that eludes his grasp.” (New York Concert Review).

    A specialist in the works of living composers and the American Minimalist Movement, Lankov has recorded compositions of Gershwin, Messiaen, Finnissy, Piazzolla, and Rodríguez. His repertoire includes works by composers as diverse as John Adams, Blind Tom, John Cage, George Crumb, Michael Finnissy, and Jacob TV, along with music for toy piano and prepared piano, and Lankov’s own solo-piano transcriptions of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and The Firebird.

    As a solo recitalist and collaborative pianist, Jeff Lankov has performed in the major concert venues, as well as in popular genres at venues including Radio City Music Hall and Broadway theatres. His multimedia programs combine music with theatrical elements, visual art and computer-generated sounds and images, often in unusual juxtapositions that explore the synthesis of popular and classical forms. Lankov holds a Ph.D. in Piano Performance from New York University.

    www.JeffLankov.com
  • Founding Chorus Pianist - Jerry Stephens (1977-2016)
    Orig2_Stephens_Jerry
    Jerry Stephens was the principal rehearsal accompanist for the Dallas Symphony Chorus since its founding in 1977 until his retirement following the conclusion of the 2015-2016 season. He and his wife, Paula, are also well known in the Dallas area as a performing piano duo, who have delighted, amused and amazed audiences of all ages with their improvisational skills as well as playing a wide variety of genres, from classical to folk to Broadway to holiday and many pop tunes.

    After 38 seasons of helping the Chorus prepare for concert after concert (and doing a little performing with us during the Christmas season and other times, too) Jerry announced his retirement in May 2016.

    A book of personal congratulatory letters, stories, anecdotes, and remembrances was assembled presented to Jerry at a retirement reception, held on May 29 at Highland Park United Methodist Church, which saw more than 200 in attendance, including family, friends and many current and former Chorus members.

    A “GoFundMe” account was set up to provide Jerry & Paula some “mad retirement money” as a special gift. Well over $2100 was collected.

    Stephens_Jerry_Invite_sm

    Sadly, Jerry's wife, Paula, suffered a debilitating brain injury while on vacation with Jerry in August, 2018 and passed away on May 25, 2019 following a valiant 9-month struggle. She will be greatly missed as Jerry's side-by-side piano partner. Paula's celebration of life was held on June 1, 2019 at First Baptist Church of Garland in which well over 100 current and former Chorus members participated.
  • Vocal Coach - Grant Williams (1994-2004)
    Chorus Vocal Coach - Grant Williams
    Grant Williams was a vocal coach and consultant to the Dallas Symphony Chorus until just before his passing in 2004. He enjoyed an extensive performing career in leading roles with the New York City Opera and the opera companies of Philadelphia, Detroit, Chautauqua, Central City, Mississippi, Miami, Fort Worth, Washington, D.C. and the World's Fair Festival of American Opera, Brussels, Belgium.

    As vocal soloist he performed with the New York City Ballet, the Martha Graham Company, The Robert Shaw Chorale, the stage bands of Horace Heidt and Wayne King in theater, radio and television. His symphony orchestra engagements included the Cleveland, Detroit, Chautauqua, Little Orchestra Society of New York, Symphony of the Air (formerly NBC Symphony), Dallas, Norfolk, Des Moines, Philadelphia and Oklahoma City. He was the regular soloist at the Riverside Church of New York, recitalist at Wigmore Hall, London, England, and regular member of the Men's Glee Club of Radio City Music Hall. His recordings as soloist include the RCA Victor, MGM and Lyrichord.

    Mr. Williams was founder and first president of the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra and founder and conductor of the Grant Williams Chorale which became the nucleus of the Detroit Symphony Chorus. He was Professor Emeritus of the College of Music, University of North Texas. The Juilliard School awarded him Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in voice as a scholarship student over seven years, and his dramatic study was under Uta Hagen of New York.
  • - IN MEMORIAM -
    This section is dedicated in fond memory to those Dallas Symphony Chorus members who have passed away and joined a much larger chorus. We honor and celebrate their love of singing and contributions to choral excellence through their involvement in the Chorus over the years.

    SOPRANO
    Jenny Lynn Klinke - 2002
    Mary E. Harris - 2003
    Serita Lattimore - 2007
    Blodwen Wilson Henry - 2011
    Debra “Debi” H. Lewis - 2013
    Mary Ruth Caldwell - 2013
    Trisha Hale - 2014
    Kalva Sue Scott - 2015
    Mary Davis - 2017
    Gloria Lett - 2023
    Beth L. Rumph - 2023
    Carolyn Lynch - 2023
    Mary Virginia Tuinstra - 2023
    Sandy Spohr - 2024

    ALTO
    Barbara M. Buckner - 2009
    Kathleen Alexander - 2013
    Suzanne Goddard - 2014
    Teri Long - 2014
    Barbara "Babs" Arnswald - 2017
    Betty Plumlee - 2017
    Brenda J. Stubel - 2017
    Carol Tillman - 2018
    Kay Wiley - 2018
    Dianne Wester - 2019
    Pat V. Guittard - 2021
    Victoria "Vikki" Treadway - 2022

    TENOR
    Jack Gramlich - 2008
    Lance Treadway - 2008
    William “Bill” Rollings - 2013
    Mike Richardson - 2014
    Stephen Dardaganian - 2017
    Alan Lummus - 2017
    Kemball Winegeart - 2018
    Jack Waller - 2018
    Joe Rhyne - 2019
    Larry Tripp - 2020
    Ron Isaacson - 2022
    Howard Kennedy - 2024

    BASS
    Harlan Buckner - 1994
    Robert “Bob” Lynch - 1997
    Russel Carver - 2004
    Joel Shickman - 2007
    Nash Long - 2010
    Joe Wright - 2014
    Dick Stine - 2015
    David E. Dilworth - 2015
    Dave Lundberg - 2017
    Frank Amos - 2017
    Charles Suitt - 2019
    David Hott - 2019
    Scott Gordon - 2019
    Andy Stanyer - 2019
    Lewis Robinson - 2020
    Matthew Hampton - 2021
    Gordon Roe - 2021
    H. Neil Davidson - 2023

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Chorus Group Photos - Oct 2019
by
Sylvia Elzafon


This Page Was Last Updated: 12/22/23