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Saturday, April 26, 2003

By Andrew Druckenbrod, Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic

Conductor Brady Allred is leaving the faculty at Duquesne University, but the baton cut-off is not complete. He will remain as the music director of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh for at least next season while he teaches at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

"Brady is very much committed to Bach Choir," said managing director Kimi Kawashima, who said Allred will fly into Pittsburgh at least once a month. "We are working on budgeting the flight and his contract as well. He understands that the flights are an added expense, and he is willing to negotiate so that that is not an added expense to the Bach Choir."

"I am really pleased with that, especially since I have been with them for 10 years and helped them grow," said Allred. "I want to help continue to provide some artistic leadership."

Kawashima said the board is fully behind continuing the relationship for next season but that, "We are placing benchmarks in the season to evaluate it -- obviously it is a big move."

Associate conductor Sharon Rotuna will lead many of the rehearsals and receive increased compensation for it, says Kawashima. "I will come in to do sectional rehearsals in the middle of the rehearsal period and then again for dress rehearsals and concerts," said Allred. The Bach Choir, a community choir of paid and volunteer singers numbering 140 voices, performs three concerts a year in addition to running a summer choral institute.

Allred said his new post at Utah will allow him to be the director of choral studies, to oversee a doctoral program in choral conducting and to organize a chamber choir. He cited the greater number of voice students, a new performing arts center and being closer to family as other reasons for leaving Duquesne. "They also offered my wife, Carol Ann, a position on the voice faculty -- that clinched the deal for us," said Allred.

Allred's last concert leading the Duquesne University Chamber Singers and Concert Choir is at 3 p.m. tomorrow at the Duquesne University Chapel, Uptown.