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The Chorale joins the full United States
Air Force Academy Concert Band in a performance of “pops”
and patriotic music as a highlight of the annual Colorado
Springs Chamber of Commerce salute to the military.
Tickets: Performance is free but tickets are required. Pikes
Peak Center Box Office or TicketsWest, 719 520 7469 for further
information.
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Thanks Don, for 40 years of wonderful music and inspired
direction!
This season we celebrate Donald P. Jenkins
40th Anniversary as Chorale Artistic Director & Conductor.
Don received a B A degree from Oberlin College and a BME degree
from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1958 and an MA degree
in Choral Conducting from the Juilliard School of Music in
1960. The following September he was engaged by Colorado College
to direct its College Choir, Chamber Chorus, and Chapel Choir;
direct the Opera Workshop; teach singing; and eventually to
teach courses in Introduction to Music, American Music, Great
Choral Works, and Conducting. During those years he led the
Colorado College Choir on extensive national concert tours.
He became Professor Emeritus of Music in 1999.
He was co-founder and General Director of the Colorado Opera
Festival for 30 years, presenting more than 100 full operatic
productions with orchestra, employing distinguished national
artists performing at Colorado College and at Pikes Peak Center.
Mr. Jenkins has guest conducted or stage directed for Colorado
Opera Troupe (Denver), Denver’s Classic Chorale, and
Opera Theatre of the Rockies, most recently conducting Hansel
and Gretel in early March 2007. He continues to serve as a
judge for the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in seven western
states. Notably, in September, 2004, Mr. Jenkins received
the Pikes Peak Arts Council Lifetime Achievement Award.
Don became Conductor of the Colorado Springs Chorale in 1967.
Under his leadership the Chorale placed emphasis on the performance
of the great choral classics. The audition process was strengthened
and instruction in vocal and choral technique was established
as a part of every rehearsal. Ever a perfectionist, he established
the dreaded drills on foreign language pronunciations, developed
the less than beloved worksheet study system, and insisted
on a solid understanding of the meaning and context of the
sung scores. Yet it is his intense love for the works, his
depth of knowledge, his dedication and his abilities and patience
with people which has had such a deep impact on the Chorale.
In his 40 years, Don has either directed or prepared the Chorale
for more than 211 performances.
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