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Congratulations to Richard Coffey for the following awards:
- The Alfred Nash Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award, by Choral Arts New England, October 2009
- A Major Achievement Award by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
- The Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award, by the Greater New Britain Arts Alliance
Richard Coffey was named Interim Music Director of the Chorale
in April 2005, following the resignation of Frank Nemhauser. After
one year, the Chorale was thrilled to offer Mr. Coffey the position
of Music Director.
Of the appointment, Mr. Coffey said, “It is a great honor
to be invited to serve the Hartford Chorale as its Music Director.
The Chorale has served for more than three decades as the region’s
principal chorus for presenting large symphonic works and, with
the Hartford
Symphony Orchestra, has brought to our community many memorable
and one-of-a-kind musical experiences. The Chorale and CONCORA
(Connecticut Choral Artists), which I also conduct, are about the
same age and have co-existed happily these many years, each honoring
and supporting the musical endeavors of the other. I look forward
to the exciting years ahead.”
In addition to being the founding Artistic Director of CONCORA,
Mr. Coffey is Organist and Minister of Music of the South Church
of New Britain, where he also serves as Artistic Director of its
Music Series,
which annually presents concerts of visiting artists.
Mr. Coffey has prepared choruses for many orchestras and festivals
including Orchestra New England, Springfield (MA) Symphony, the
Bard Music Festival, and the Harkness Summer Music Festival. He
was chorusmaster for the Connecticut Opera Association from 1988
until 1993. He has also served on the faculties of Hartt School,
University of Hartford, SummerTerm at Central Connecticut State
University, President’s College of the University of Hartford,
the Colby Church Music Institute in Waterville, Maine and the University
of Connecticut at Storrs.
Mr. Coffey has served on the boards of the Hartford Chapter of
the American Guild of Organists and Chorus America. He often serves
as an adjudicator and clinician for competitions and festivals.
From 1980 to 1985 he served on a panel of advisors to the Institute
of Sacred Music at Yale University and often makes presentations
at national conventions of the AGO, Choral Directors Association,
and Chorus America. Mr. Coffey holds degrees in music from the University
of North Carolina at Greensboro and the School of Sacred Music of
Union Theological Seminary in New York. He makes presentations at
regional and national conventions of the AGO, ACDA (American Choral
Directors Association), and Chorus America.
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