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Robert Cowles has been artistic director of the Syracuse Vocal Ensemble since 1996. Under his leadership SVE has garnered a reputation for innovative programming and superb choral artistry. Cowles is a professor of music and the department chair at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY, where since 1992 he has directed the Colleges' choral ensembles and taught music theory and conducting.
As a past Fulbright Scholar to the Republic of Estonia, Cowles taught choral literature and conducting at the Estonian Academy of Music. He has visited Estonia several times for continued professional work and has on two occasions organized and conducted choral ensembles combining HWS Colleges and Syracuse Vocal Ensemble singers on a concert tour throughout the entire Baltic region, including participation in the famed Estonian Song Festival.
Cowles has guest lectured for the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and the Eastman School of Music and has presented conducting master classes at the Sibelius Academy of Music in Helsinki, Finland. He has served as an adjudicator for music competitions, locally and internationally, including at the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. In addition, he has sung with elite choral ensembles such as the Dale Warland Singers and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.
Prior to his time in Central New York, Cowles held choral faculty positions at Minnesota State University Moorhead and Wake Forest University. Cowles earned a D.M. from Indiana University School of Music, a M.M. from New England Conservatory of Music and a B.A. from Macalester College.
Previous Artistic Directors
G. Roberts Kolb, 1990-1996
Julie Pretzat, 1986-1990
G. Burton Harbison, 1982-1986
John Armstrong, 1980-1982
Marietta Cheng, 1978-1979
Bruce Campbell, 1976-1978
Timothy Adams, 1973-1976
LISTEN
to excerpts from:
Rakhmaninov Voskreseniye Khristovo videvshe (from All-Night Vigil)
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
"SVE gave a remarkable performance and the mundane concerns of life were transcended ... the audience held its collective breath, hesitating,
unwilling to disturb the intensity of the experience."
The Rakhmaninov Vespers, 2010
Linda Loomis, Syracuse Post Standard
Read review
"The Syracuse Vocal Ensemble is outstanding. The group produces a beautiful, cohesive, and musically authoritative sound, and has made our collaborations truly memorable. Under the inspired leadership of Robert Cowles, this splendid ensemble is sure to provide glorious music-making."
Daniel Hege, Music Director, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra
"I have been a heartfelt fan of Syracuse Vocal Ensemble for many years. Every single concert by this fabulous group of singers has been musically engaging and often deeply moving ... I keep coming back to hear great music superbly sung."
Kevin Moore, pianist
"[SVE's concert] was, simply put, the finest choral performance I have ever heard in person."
Crystal LaPoint, composer
P.O. Box 6855, Syracuse, New York 13217
315-637-3899 sve@SyracuseVocalEnsemble.org
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