Andrew Shenton Named BCE’s Third Artistic Director

The Boston Choral Ensemble is pleased to begin its second decade with the appointment of Andrew Shenton as its new artistic director.

“BCE is thrilled to be embarking on a new era of growth and vitality under Andrew Shenton’s leadership,” said Lauren Roller, president of the Board of Directors. “Andrew’s vision for the future of BCE inspired the membership and the Board, and convinced us that he was the ideal person to lead BCE to even greater heights of high-quality, creative choral programming.”

Dr. Shenton’s appointment comes as the result of a national search conducted by a committee of representatives of the BCE Board and the choir. After reviewing a strong pool of applicants and receiving substantial input from the singers and the Board of Directors, the committee was unanimous in declaring Andrew Shenton to be the best candidate to lead the choir.

“I am honored and delighted to become artistic director of this excellent ensemble at the start of its second decade,” said Dr. Shenton. “I look forward to working with Lauren, the Board and the wonderful singers on exciting and innovative programming. I am dedicated to the mission of BCE and to its continuation of as a notable presence in the musical scene in Boston and to ever wider audiences.”

Dr. Shenton brings to BCE a deep knowledge and love of music and a great deal of experience as a musician, scholar, prize-winning author and educator. He is an Associate Professor of Music at Boston University, where he also serves as the Houghton Scholar of Sacred Music, Director of the Sacred Music program and Director of the Boston University Messiaen Project. In addition to diplomas in both piano and organ Dr. Shenton holds the Choir Training diploma of the Royal College of Organists, where he is a Fellow. He has been the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards including a Boston University Junior Research Fellowship and Harvard’s Certificate of Distinction in Teaching. He has pioneered contemporary music in a variety of styles and has given more than forty world premieres by composers such as Geoffrey Burgon, Joe Utterback, and John Tavener. Dr. Shenton holds Bachelor, Master’s and Doctoral degrees from London University, Yale and Harvard respectively.

He comes to BCE at the end of its tenth season, at a point when the Ensemble is strong both musically and organizationally and is ready to step forward into new projects. BCE was founded in 2001 by its first music director, Tom Cunningham. A graduate of Yale University and Westminster Choir College, Cunningham was interested in creating a choir that was smart, but not stuffy—a place for people who may not have chosen music as a profession to produce high-quality music and have fun in the process. He drew a repertoire from various time periods and traditions, both sacred and secular, and was committed to sharing that variety with the community. The choir started small, with 13 members performing in its first concert series in Gordon Chapel at Old South Church in Boston during March 2002.

With Dr. Shenton’s appointment, BCE says farewell to Miguel Felipe, who was the Ensemble’s second artistic director and led the BCE to a variety of successes on many levels over his seven years. Dr. Felipe developed the choir from its humble beginnings to its current size as a 32-voice chamber choir. During that time the concert season expanded, a Commission Competition was established, and both budget and audience grew dramatically. Today, the Ensemble remains committed to the high-quality performance of challenging and engaging music with a focus on innovative programming that explores the essential qualities that unite diverse traditions. As it begins its eleventh season, BCE is eager to explore with as many people as possible new avenues for creative performance and the collective joy unique to live musical performance.

For more information, visit www.BostonChoral.org and www.AndrewShenton.com.

A Choral Holiday

Join BCE and the Choirs of Marlborough High School for a concert of music to celebrate the holidays, including carols for congregation and organ.

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