 |
         |
 |
|
 |
Charles Bruffy
Charles Bruffy is one of the most highly respected and sought after choral conductors in the nation. In his second season as Artistic Director of the Kansas City Symphony Chorus, he has also been the Artistic Director for Kansas City Chorale since 1988 and of the Phoenix Chorale (formerly the Phoenix Bach Choir) since 1999. Under his direction, both choirs continue to merit critical national and international acclaim.
Mr. Bruffy records exclusively for Chandos Records. His recording of Grechaninov's "Passion Week" with the Kansas City and Phoenix Chorales was nominated for five 2007 Grammy® awards, including best classical album, and won the Grammy for Best Engineered Classical Album. His recording "Songs to the Blessed Virgin" won the 2008 Grammy award for Best Performance by a Small Ensemble.
In the spring of 2003, he and the Chorale were featured performers at the Library of Congress as part of its "I Hear America Singing" series. In 2009 he conducted his chorus as part of the Troy Chromatics Concerts series in Troy, New York, at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, and at the Incheon Choral Festival in Seoul, Korea.
In addition to his work with these choirs he has also conducted choruses across the nation, and in 2003 conducting Verdi's "Requiem" in Sydney. Mr. Bruffy is dedicated to commissioning and premiering works by contemporary composers, including works by David Montoya, Matthew Harris, Stephen Sametz, Stephen Paulus, Libby Larsen, Eric Whitacre, and Kansas City composers James Mobberley, Paul Rudy, Jean Belmont, Mark Hayes, Chen Yi and Zhou Long.
The Roger Dean Company, a division of the Lorenz Corporation, publishes a choral series under Mr. Bruffy's supervision specializing in music for professional ensembles and sophisticated high school and college choirs.
Mr. Bruffy has performed with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers in recordings and concerts in France, and in concerts at Carnegie Hall. He is a featured soloist on the Shaw release "Appear and Inspire". He was asked by NPR to help celebrate Robert Shaw's 80th birthday with an on-air tribute in May 1996, and in February 1999 was featured in the New York Times as one of Robert Shaw's successors.
Mr. Bruffy received his Bachelor's Degree in secondary education with an emphasis in piano performance from Missouri Western State University and a Master's Degree in vocal performance from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He has received honorary doctorates from Baker University and Missouri Western State University.
|
|
|
|
|
