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Dartmouth Chamber Singers

The Dartmouth Chamber Singers, conducted by Robert Duff, is a 24-32 member vocal ensemble that has enjoyed successful performances both in the United States and abroad in their first 20 years. The group's repertoire consists of music from all periods with special concentration in both the repertoire of the 16th through 18th century and music composed in recent decades. The Chamber Singers have worked in master classes with noted musicians Peter Phillips, Paul Hillier and Marcel Peres, among other distinguished artists-in-residence at the Hop. Past international tours have included extensive travel in Europe, a 2002 tour to Japan and, this past spring, a choral exchange with the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The Chamber Singers have produced lavish madrigal events and have presented baroque operas, premieres of new works and modern premieres of rediscovered choral works. The Chamber Singers employ regional artists specializing in historically-informed performance practices. Please check our web site www.dartmouth.edu/~chsing or contact the conductor: Robert.P.D.Duff@Dartmouth.edu.

Robert Duff is the director of the Handel Society and Chamber Singers of Dartmouth College.  A native of Massachusetts, Dr. Duff comes to Hanover from Los Angeles, California, where he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California in 2000.

Before coming to Dartmouth College, Dr. Duff served on the faculties of Claremont Graduate University, Pomona College and Mount St. Mary's College.  Before starting his career in academia, he served for two years as the Director of Music for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, where he directed the music programs for nearly 300 parishes.  Dr. Duff earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, his master's degree at Temple University, and his doctorate at the University of Southern California. He has studied conducting with E. Wayne Abercrombie, Alan Harler, Lynn Bielefelt, William Dehning and John Barnett.

Since 2000, Dr. Duff has premiered several West Coast performances of numerous choral works including Anthony Powers' Zlata's Diary and a new realization of Vivaldi's Gloria for women's voices.  He has also been active in commissioning new works for both choral and instrumental forces.  In addition to his work with choirs in Southern California, Dr. Duff is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, American Musicological Society, Choral Conductors Guild, Chorus America, the College Music Society and the Music Educator's National conference. He is a life member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and a member of Pi Kappa Lambda Music Society.