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DONALD PALUMBO NAMED NEXT DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY CHORUS
Palumbo Only the Third Chorus Director in the Grammy Award-Winning Ensemble’s 67-year History
CHICAGO – The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (CSOA) has announced that distinguished choral director and educator Donald Palumbo has been selected as the next Chorus Director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus. His appointment is the result of the unanimous recommendation of the Chorus Director Search Committee following a multi-season, national search. Palumbo will begin an initial three-year tenure beginning July 1, 2025. As Chorus Director, he will work with the Chicago Symphony Chorus each year to prepare multiple programs across the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s downtown season and the annual summer residency at the Ravinia Festival.
Palumbo prepares the Chicago Symphony Chorus for the first time as Chorus Director for its July 18 Ravinia Festival performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 (Resurrection) with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and renowned soloists led by the Festival’s Chief Conductor Marin Alsop. Prior to that, Palumbo prepares the Chorus as guest chorus director as previously announced for four performances of Verdi’s Requiem Mass June 19-24 conducted by Riccardo Muti, the CSO’s Music Director Emeritus for Life.
Palumbo is only the third chorus director to lead the Grammy Award-winning Chicago Symphony Chorus in its 67-year history. He succeeds Duain Wolfe who retired from the role in 2022 after 28 seasons and Margaret Hillis, the founding director of the Chorus appointed by the CSO’s sixth music director Fritz Reiner, whose distinguished tenure spanned more than three decades from 1957 to 1994. Prior to this appointment, Palumbo was Chorus Master of the Metropolitan Opera for 17 years from 2007 until June 2024 and Chorus Master of the Lyric Opera of Chicago for 16 years from 1991 to 2007.