Duquesne's Chamber Singers conductor resigns
Brady Allred resigned Wednesday as director of choral studies at Duquesne University's School of Music, and will conduct its Chamber Singers -- which he has led to winning appearances at international competitions -- for the last time on Sunday afternoon.
He will continue as music director of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh.
Beginning in September, Allred will become director of choral studies at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City. "It'll be like goin' home," he said, more because his parents live there and his wife, Carol Ann, has family there, too, than because he was born there. Allred grew up in Memphis, Tenn.
At the University of Utah, he will form an elite chamber choir and a large symphonic choir and oversee graduate-level conducting studies. He says he is particularly excited by the prospect of starting a doctoral program in conducting in Salt Lake City.
Allred came to Duquesne in 1989. He led the School of Music's Chamber Singers on several international tours, winning awards at every competition they entered. Eight compact discs issued by Duquesne document the collaboration.
Allred became artistic director of the Bach Choir in 1993. "When I took over, the Bach Choir as an organization was wondering if it would be able to continue. We built it from 60 voices to 140 voices, formed a chamber choir and raised the budget from $25,000 per season to $225,000." The Bach Choir has made five CDs with Allred.
Kimi Kawashima, Bach Choir's managing director, said, "He'll be coming in at least once a moth for intensive rehearsals and will conduct the regular season (of concerts). Associate conductor Sharon Rotuna will handle other rehearsals, as well as section leaders from the choir."
Allred's final concert with the Duquesne Chamber Singers will feature "Lux Aeterna" by Martin Lauridsen and "Effortlessly Love Flows" by Aaron Jay Kernis.
The concert will start at 3 p.m. at the Duquesne University Chapel. Admission is free, but a donation of $10 is suggested.
Details: (412) 396-4632.
