The Connecticut Choral Society is delighted to welcome Eric Dale Knapp as our Music
Director and Conductor.
Eric Dale Knapp is a dynamic conductor whose commitment and energy empower the musicians
he leads to give performances that stir the souls of his audiences. A versatile musical
leader, equally adept with classics and pops, Knapp's finely honed ability to communicate
through both gesture and speech place him at the forefront of the rising conductors
of his generation.
Mr. Knapp is the founder and Music Director of Orchestra de Camerata at the Salisbury
House, where he also serves as Artistic Director of Chamber Music at Salisbury House.
This is Mr. Knapp’s fourth season with the Connecticut Choral Society. He was Associate
Conductor and Accompanist for three years.
He is also the Artistic Director and Conductor of the New Jersey Choral Society and Orchestra; Music Director for the Mark Thallander Foundation of Los Angeles, CA; Artistic Director of Chamber Music at Salisbury House in Des Moines, Iowa, as well as Music Director of Orchestra de Camerata. He has been named Artistic Director and Conductor of Voices in the House International Music Festival at the Sydney Opera House and will appear in Vienna, Austria, in 2009 as Artistic Director and Conductor of the International Haydn Festival celebrating Haydn's Bicentennial Anniversary.
In 2008 Mr. Knapp will lead 2008 Beijing Olympics Festival Chorus and Orchestra in an official XXIX OLYMPIAD concert as part of the official Perform in Harmony - With Olympic Spirit cultural arts celebration.
In 1995 he was the first American conductor, at the request of the Austrian Minister of Culture, to conduct the closing concert at the International Advent Sing in Vienna, Austria. In the same season Mr. Knapp was also the first American to appear at the International Bach Festival in Warsaw, Poland, as organ recitalist. Mr. Knapp has also collaborated with the Kromeriz Chamber Orchestra, Martinu Bolshava Philharmonie and the Basel Academic Orchestra. Mr. Knapp also served on the conducting faculty at Drake University from 1999 to 2000.As Conductor-in-Residence at MidAmerica Productions, he conducted the New England Symphonic Ensemble and Festival Chorus annually at Carnegie Hall. His May 2000 Carnegie Hall debut was marked with critical acclaim. Mr. Knapp also served as cover conductor for John Rutter at Carnegie Hall and prepared choirs to work under Mr. Rutter's baton.
As Conductor-in-Residence at MidAmerica Productions, he conducted the New England Symphonic Ensemble and Festival Chorus annually at Carnegie Hall. His May 2000 Carnegie Hall debut was marked with critical acclaim. Mr. Knapp also served as cover conductor for John Rutter at Carnegie Hall and prepared choirs to work under Mr. Rutter's baton.
Honors include the Drake Award for career development and the subsequent appointment as a Drake Fellow for graduate study in conducting. He is a graduate of Drake University and has studied at The Juilliard School. Mr. Knapp has studied with Jorge Mester, John Alexander, Helmuth Rilling, Robert Shaw, Aimee Beckmann-Collier, Vincent LaSelva, Kirk Trevor, Tsung Yeh, Gary Fagan, and Johannes Schlaefli.
