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HANDEL SOCIETY OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE CELEBRATES 200 YEARS

The Handel Society of Dartmouth College, 85-voices strong, is conducted by Robert Duff. Founded in 1807, it is Dartmouth's student, faculty, staff and Upper Valley oratorio organization. The ensemble performs extended major works of the choral-orchestral repertoire from the 18th century to the present, including such works as Bach's B minor Mass and St. Matthew Passion, Verdi's Requiem, Arvo Pärt's Te Deum and John Adams' Harmonium. The Handel Society made its Carnegie Hall debut as guests of the New York Pops Orchestra and has collaborated with the New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra and Vermont Symphony Orchestra. The Handel Society toured to Germany and Austria in December 1999, returned to Germany in 2002 and plans a tour to Austria and Italy in December 2006.

The Handel Society's bicentennial season in '06-'07 includes the traditional Celebration for the Season with music of Mozart; Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, Brahms' Nänie and the world premiere of a newly commissioned work by Andrea Clearfield. All concerts are in Spaulding Auditorium.

For further information, please check our website at www.handelsociety.org.

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 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 nationally, Dr. Duff is on the executive board of the Eastern Division of the American Choral Directors Association, and is a member of the American Musicological Society, Choral Conductors Guild, Chorus America, the College Music Society, Music Educator's National conference, Kappa Phi Honor Society and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Society.