Chris Albanese
Pam and Jack Burks Professor - 2017 - 2020
Chris Albanese earned a B.M. in music education and vocal performance from the University of Dayton, an M.M. in vocal performance from Northwestern University, and a D.M.A. in choral conducting from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. Albanese is an assistant professor of choral conducting at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he conducts the Grammy-nominated Singing Hoosiers and teaches courses in choral conducting.
Prior to joining the IU faculty, Albanese was a member of the Grammy Award-winning ensemble, Chanticleer, in San Fransisco. Chanticleer, "the world's reigning male chorus", performs in world-renowned venues such as Los Angeles' Disney Concert Hall and Vienna's Musikverein. The ensemble was also broadcast on nationwide NPR affiliates and Russia's Mariinski's network and performs over 120 yearly concerts in the United States and internationally. Albanese has also performed with the Dayton Opera, Cincinnati Bach Festival, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Ars Musica Chicago, Berkshire Choral Festival, Lorin Maazel's Castleton Festival, and as tenor soloist for the world premiere of Dominick DiOrio's "Ding Dong Bell." At the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Albanese served as conductor of the Men's Chorus. He also served on the choral faculties of Xavier University and Archbishop McNicholas High School in Cincinnati.
A passionate educator, Albanese has facilitated master classes throughout the United States and Europe and has presented clinics for the Ohio Music Education Association, Music America, Chanticleer Youth Choral Festival, and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
In 2019, Albanese was presented with Indiana University's Bicentennial Medal, in recognition of his distinguished contributions.