BACH VOCAL ARTISTS

BRIAN MING CHU, baritone

Hailed by the Washington Post for his “rich, authoritative tone” and “range, agility, and expressive storytelling ability”(Monterey Herald), Brian Ming Chu has established himself onstage and in recital as a dynamic interpreter of music of the Baroque to the 21st century. An oratorio soloist with the Bethlehem Bach Choir, Brandywine Baroque, the Dryden Ensemble, The King’s Noyse, Piffaro, Portland Baroque, and the Washington Bach Consort, he has performed the title role of Mendelssohn’s Elijah, the Bach Passions, Haydn’s Creation, the Brahms, Mozart and Verdi Requiems, and Handel’s Messiah on three continents. Additional credits include Orff’s Carmina Burana, Finzi’s In terra pax, Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. On the operatic stage, he has performed with opera companies around the country, in signature roles including Marcello (La Bohème), the Count in Le nozze di Figaro, and Figaro (The Barber of Seville). Recent engagements include the title role of Anton Rubinstein's opera, The Demon, Mahler’s songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, and Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 with the Choral Arts Society of Washington at the Kennedy Center. A dedicated teacher and advocate for contemporary art song, Mr. Chu has been cited for “vocal and interpretive confidence” (Philadelphia Inquirer) with the ensemble Network for New Music, collaborating with composers such as Aaron Jay Kernis, Lori Laitman, Daniel Asia, and Steven Stucky. He has appeared in recital at Carnegie’s Weill and Merkin Halls in New York, Washington's Phillips Collection, and as a US Embassy Cultural Mr. Chu did his graduate studies at the Peabody Conservatory, and has a bachelor’s in architecture from Cornell University. He has served on the voice faculty of Muhlenberg College (PA) for 18 years.

DANN COAKWELL , tenor

Dann Coakwell has been praised as a “clear-voiced and eloquent … vivid storyteller” (The New York Times) and frequently performs the Bach’s major oratorios, including St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion, Christmas Oratorio, and Mass in B minor. He can be heard on numerous Grammy-nominated and-winning recordings, such as Conspirare: A Company of Voices. Internationally, he has performed under Helmuth Rilling, Masaaki Suzuki, Nicholas McGegan, and Matthew Halls. His repertoire includes prominent works by Rameau, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven. Dr. Coakwell holds an Artist Diploma from the Yale School of Music/Institute of Sacred Music, a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and masters and doctorate degrees from Texas Tech University. Dr. Coakwell serves on the Ithaca College voice faculty.