Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus to Perform at New York's Avery Fisher Hall

DPO and WSU's Hank Dahlman to direct performance of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms

DAYTON, Ohio, June 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Distinguished Concerts International of New York City (DCINY) has announced that the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus and its director, Dr. Hank Dahlman, will participate in a performance of Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms on June 27, 2010, in Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.  

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Members of the choir will join with other outstanding choristers to form the Distinguished Concerts Singers International.  Dr. Dahlman will open the program, serving as one of the three guest conductors for the performance, as well as serve as clinician for the assembled choristers. Soloist for the concert will be Dr. Diana Cataldi.  

Dr. Jonathan Griffith, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for DCINY, states: "The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus received this invitation because of the quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers and the exceptional recommendations given by Dr. Dahlman's choral colleagues. It is quite an honor to be invited to perform in Lincoln Center. These wonderful musicians not only represent a high quality of music and education, but they also become ambassadors for their entire community. This is an event of extreme pride for all concerned and one deserving of the community's recognition and support."

About the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus

The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus (DPOC) is the choral performance organization of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Additionally, the DPOC is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the greater Miami Valley through workshops, clinics, joint concerts, and other educational outreach.

In 1935, realizing how much choral music would enhance the concert programming of the Dayton Philharmonic, Dr. Paul Katz founded the original, all-volunteer Dayton Philharmonic Chorus. The work of Charles Wendelken-Wilson, the Dayton Philharmonic's second Music Director, brought about the DPOC's reorganization as an even more vital part of the Orchestra. Former directors of the DPC include Clark Haines and Jeffrey Powell. In 1996, the DPOC appointed Dr. Hank Dahlman as its fourth director. Under Dahlman, the Chorus has added the Dayton Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the DPC Festival Chorus to its program. In 2006, the touring choir of the DPOC made its first tour of Europe.

Currently, 140-plus members selected from singers from all over the Miami Valley join the Orchestra in concert several times a season, to perform some of the most challenging and beautiful choral music. Recent repertoire has included Orff's Carmina Burana, Monteverdi's 1610 Vespers, Britten's War Requiem, Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust, and J.S. Bach's St. John Passion.  

About Hank Dahlman

Hank Dahlman is Professor of Music, Director of Choral Studies, and Director of Graduate Studies in Music at Wright State University, where he serves as the conductor of the WSU Collegiate Chorale. He serves as the Artistic Director of WSU's annual Madrigal Dinners and Holidays in the Heartland. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting, music education, and music history.

Director of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus, Dr. Dahlman also serves as a guest conductor with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and founded the Dayton Philharmonic Chamber Choir in 2000. Dahlman conducted the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus in performance with professional orchestras, such as the Czech Chamber Philharmonic in Prague and at the Salzburg Cathedral celebrating Mozart's 250th birthday in 2006, and conducted in his Carnegie Hall debut in 2008.

Dr. Dahlman presently serves as ACDA Central Division Chair for Youth and Student Activities. Prior service to the profession includes several divisional-, state-, and district-level positions with choral and music education associations in Florida and Ohio.

Dr. Dahlman holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, a Master of Music degree in choral conducting and literature from the University of South Florida, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree (magna cum laude) from Longwood University. Notable teachers have included Eph Ehly, James McCray, Rey Longyear, Wesley K. Morgan, Randall Pembrook, and Robert Summer.

Hank is the fortunate husband of Cindy and the proud father of James and Amanda.  He and Cindy recently completed their first marathon while raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  In addition to his love of running, Hank is also an avid cyclist and golfer.

About the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra

The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra is the largest and oldest performing arts organization in the community. Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra performances are made possible in part by Montgomery County and Culture Works, the single largest source of community funds for the arts and culture in the Miami Valley. Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra receives partial funding from the Ohio Arts Council, a state agency created to foster and encourage the development of the arts and to preserve Ohio's cultural heritage. Funding from the Ohio Arts Council is an investment of state tax dollars that promotes economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohio residents.

Performance Place at the Schuster Center~109 North Main Street, Suite 200~Dayton, Ohio 45402

SOURCE Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra