|
1. CONDUCTOR: 1984 - Present
Conducting Experience:
North Shore Musician's Club Chorus, 1984 - 1991
Conductor of Musician's Club Women's Chorus that
regularly performed extended works for that genre.
The Lutheran Choir of Chicago, 1984 - 1990
Founded in 1948, this choir has a long tradition of
unaccompanied music including Bach motets; as
conductor revived chorus and brought
it to a higher artistic level.
Light Opera Works, 1986 - June, 1999
Chorus master that has garnered regular critical
acclaim in the major Chicago press for the professional
quality and excellence of the choruses. Began 1996
to also regularly conduct mainstage productions.
Chicago Children's Choir, 1988 - 1996, 1998-1999
Was the longest tenured staff member at the time,
and key contributor to the significant growth and
stabilization of the artistic product of this venerable
Chicago institution. Conducted choruses at every
level of the organization to general acclaim.
North Shore Hotel Chorus, 1989 - 1999
Conductor of senior chorus at retirement hotel, at the
time of Northway’s tenure the age ranges of the
youngest singer was approximately 80 and the oldest was
103.
Fleur de Lys, 1990 - 1995
Founder and artistic director; was primary
conductor of this professional chamber ensemble
dedicated to the music of the nineteenth century.
The Park Forest Singers, 1994 - 1997
Artistic Director of already distinguished choral
ensemble of the Chicago south suburbs. The
auditioned chorus had grown from 41 to over 90 and
a community children's choir with 50 young singers
was begun under his aegis.
VanderCook College of Music, 1995 - July, 1998
Was full associate professor and also taught
elementary /secondary/high school methods, advanced
theory, and advanced conducting, both undergraduate
and graduate.
Handel Week Festival, Oak Park, IL 2000 –
Annual festival week of concerts with world-class
performances of the works of Handel for soli, chorus
and orchestra.
Owensboro Symphony Orchestra Chorus, 2000–2002
Rejuvenated a distinguished choral program. Hailed
as a key addition to the community at large.
Kentucky Wesleyan College 2000–2002
Jump-started anew a once distinguished program of a
fine collegiate touring choir.
Jack London Middle School 2002 -
Of 750 learners, half of the school are now in school
choruses including some 190 boys.
2. PARISH/SEMINARY MUSICIAN: 1979 - Present
Metropolitan Methodist Church, Alton, IL, 1979 - 1981
Stabilized children's and adult choir programs and began
an organ recital series.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Addison, IL, 1981 - 1994
Music director and Organist who brought adult choir
to competency level to sing Bach Cantatas and give
public concerts.
McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL,
1990 - 1992 Played for services, assisted with worship
planning and directed choirs and ensembles for worship
and special events.
Grace Episcopal Church, Oak Park, IL, 1994 - present
Parish musician, began Lenten and Advent organ
recital series, an early music ensemble called
Collegium: Fête de Grace, a Handel festival, and a
touring community children's choir, an early childhood
choir, a high-school Madrigal choir, and one adult choir.
3. FESTIVAL CONDUCTOR, CLINICIAN, RECITALIST,
PANELIST & AJUDICATOR: 1994 - present
District 21 Choral Festival, Buffalo Grove/Wheeling
IL., 26 October & 1 November, 1994 Clinician and
Festival conductor 2 & 6 November, 1995 The first
clinician in over 30 years of the festival to be invited
back for a second year
Chicago Area Kodaly Educators Association
21 January, 1995 Workshop leader and lecturer
Madison Children's Choir Youth Choir Festival
Madison, WI. 22 February, 1995 Festival conductor
and clinician for four schools and the M. C. C.
Rockford IL.Chapter, American Guild of Organists
1995 Youth Choir Festival, 25/26 February, 1995
Festival conductor and clinician for nearly 300 children
from area churches
Presenter South Side Arts Partnership
Chicago, IL 5 September, 1995
Presenter Fox Valley Chapter of American Guild of Org.
Clergy – Musician Relationships 30 Oct. 1995
Clinician Wheeling/Buffalo Grove District 21
Choral festival 2 & 6 November, 1995
Illinois Music Educators Association District VII
Elementary Choral Festival, 4 November, 1995
Guest conductor and clinician
Choral Clinician Carl Fischer
Reading Session 19 January, 1996
Clinician Chicago Chapter of AGO, Church Music
Workshop, 1st Baptist Congregational Church
10 February, 1996
DuPage County IL. Music Clinic, 1 March, 1996
Clinician and workshop leader for all vocal teachers in
the district
Suburban IL. Lutheran Fine Arts Festival,
15 March, 1996 Festival conductor, clinician and
adjudicator
S. I. C. A. Choral Division Choir Festival,
22 March, 1996 Festival clinician for eight high school
choir festival
Jackson High School, Jackson, MN., 23 March, 1996
Clinician
North Scott High School, Eldridg, IA., 30 March, 1996
Clinician
Silver Lake High School, Silver Lake, KS., 4 April, 1996
Clinician
Roseau High School, Roseau, MN. 19 April, 1996
Clinician
Michigan City All-city Choral Music Festival
Michigan City, IN., 25 April, 1996
Festival Conductor and Clinician
John Marshall High School, Rochester, MN.,
27 April, 1996, Clinician
Coleman/Egan High School Choir, Coleman, SD.,
3 May, 1996, Clinician
Rosemount H. S. Girl's Choir, Rosemount, MN.,
10 May, 1996, Clinician
Robbinsdale Armstrong H. S., Plymouth, MN.,
11 May, 1996, Clinician
Boyden/Hull High School, Hull, IA., 4 June, 1996
Clinician
Downer's Grove Children's Choir, Downer's Grove IL
11 February, 1997 All-Day Clinician
Conference Music Festival, Homewood IL
11 February, 1997 Clinician and Festival Conductor
Treynor High School Choir, Treynor, IA 20 March, 1997
Clinician
Watertown High School Choir, Watertown, WI
11 April, 1997 Clinician
Mexico High School Honors Choir, Mexico MO
18 April, 1997 Clinician
Music in the Parks Festival, Six Flags:Great America
26 April, 1997 Festival Clinician
Music in the Parks Festival, Six Flags: Great America
2-3 May, 1997 Festival Clinician
Festival of Music, Toronto, Canada 17 May, 1997
Festival Clinician
Boardman High School, Boardman 24 May, 1997
Clinician
The Chicago Temple: First United Methodis Church
Fall Adult choir clinician, 27 September, 1997
The Columbian Club, lecturer on Schubert,
2 October, 1997
Choral Clinician, Whitehall High School Choral
Department, Whitehall, MI., 21 October, 1997.
Choral / General Music Symposium Leader,
VanderCook College, 25 October, 1998.
Band Clinician, Niles North High School,
26 January, 1998.
Choral Clinician, James Hart Middle School,
Homewood, IL 9 February, 1998
Choral Clinician, The Avery Coonley School, Downers
Grove, IL., 13 March, 1998
Chicago Orff Schulwerk Chapter, 14 March, 1998
Clinician
Choral Clinician, Edinburgh High School, Indiana
VanderCook College, 20 March, 1998
Choral Clinician, Greene High School, Iowa,
VanderCook College, 3 April, 1998.
Choral Clinician, VanderCook College, 14 April, 1998
Choral Clinician, Warren Township High School,
Gurnee, IL 16 April, 1998
Festivals of Music, Clinician, Chicago, 18 April, 1998
Choral Clinician, St. Margaret's School Choir, Vander
Cook College, 24 April, 1998.
Choral Clinician, Grand Forks Central High School,
Grand Forks ND, VanderCook College of Music,
1 May, 1998
E.T.C. World Events, Clinician, Rolling Meadows, IL.
1/2 May, 1998
Music in the Parks Festival, Six Flags: Great America
15-16 May, 1998 Festival Clinician
Music in the Parks Festival, Six Flags: Great America
23 May, 1998 Festival Clinician
Chicago Episcopal Diocese - Liturgy Day Clinician
"Children, Singing & Worship: Make our Garden Grow"
26 September, 1998.
Choral Clinician, Whitehall High School Choral
Department Whitehall, MI., October, 1998.
Libertyville High School Choral Festival,
Libertyville, IL., 22 October, 1998, Clinician.
Illinois Music Educators Association, Elementary
Festival conductor and Clinician 7 November, 1998
Hartland at Orr Creek Middle School Choir
3 December, 1998 Grace Episcopal Church, Clinician
DePaul University - Music Educators National
Conference Student Chapter Workshop
11 February, 1999
District 45 Choral Festival, Villa Park, IL.
25 February, 1999 Clinician & Conductor
Panelist - Illinois Arts Council
Arts-In-Education Residency Program
April, 1999
Dexter High School, Dexter, MI
8 May, 1999 Grace Episcopal Church, Clinician
North Shore Middle School, Heartland Wisc.
21 May, 1999 - Sheraton Hotel, Northbrook, IL, Clinician
Goodrich High School, Goodrich, WI
22 May, 1999 - Grace Episcopal Church, Clinician
Western Michigan Choir School for Girls
14 June, 1999 Grace Epicsopal Church, Clinician
Chorus Master – Les Mamelles de Tiresias
City of Chicago – “A World in a Weekend” series
July, 1999
Organ Recitalist – Holy Name Cathedral – Chicago
The Three Chorales of Cesar Franck, 1 Aug., 1999
First Presbyterian Church, Wheaton, IL
Clinician for Adult Choir Retreat
St. Procopius Abbey, 11 Sept., 1999
Organ Recitalist – Kingsway U.M.C. Springfield, MO
17 October, 1999
Clinician – “Boys Only!” Glen Ellyn Children’s Choir
13 November, 1999 Glen Ellyn, IL
Music Director – Chicago Opera Theater
Production of Handsel and Gretel of Humperdinck
December, 1999
Recitalist – The Organ Historical Society, Oak Park, IL
Arts Center of Oak Park
12 March, 2000
Clinician – Lutheran Schools Fine Arts Festival
Crystal Lake, IL 17 March, 2000
Gateway Music Festivals, Elgin IL
Clinician, 15 April, 2000
Clinician - Springfield High School Choir
Grace Church, Oak Park, 28 April, 2000
Clinician – High School Chorus
Grace Church, Oak Park 19 May, 2000
Festival Clinician – Buffalo Grove Wheeling Dist. 21
October 16, 2000, November 2, 2000
Clinician Illinois Music Educators Association Dist. 7
Waukegan, IL 4 November, 2000
Organ Recitalist – St. Raphael the Archangel, RC
Naperville, IL 18 Febryary, 2001
Panelist – Chicago Theological Seminary
“Singing a New Song: What’s Happening in Church Music
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” 1 March, 2001
Clinician Niles High School Choir Gateway Festivals
23 March, 2001
Clinician Gateway Festivals Northwester University,
Evanston IL 31 March, 2001
Tour Conductor – Schola Choir of Grace Church to
New York City, 20 – 23 April, 2001
Conductor– Handel Festival, Oak Park
28 April, 1 May, 6 May 2001
Clinician Cambridge High School Gateway Festivals
3 May, 2001 Grace Church, Oak Park
Tour Conductor – Kentucky Wesleyan Singers to
Nassau, Bahamas 14 – 17 May, 2001
Clinician Sheraton Arlington Park High School
Arlington Heights, IL 18 May, 2001
Organist – Chichester Psalms – The Heritage Chorale
19 January, 2002
Presenter – Art Start Project – Oak Park, IL
4 February & ff. 2002
Children’s Concert for Riverside Chapter of the
Lyric Opera 10 February, 2002
Conductor – Owensboro Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Durufle Requiem and Frostiana 22 February, 2002
Tour Conductor – Grace Schola Choir to Nashville
5-7 April, 2002
Conductor-Handel Festival, Oak Park
May, 2002
Clinician – Clarkson High School
21 May, 2002
Conductor – Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience
Lyric Opera of Cleveland June- July, 2002
Concert Presenter – Villa Scalabrini Retirement Home
Madrigals of Grace Church 8 September, 2002
Conference Musician - Chicago Diocese Convention
Oakbrook, IL November, 2002
Conference Musician - National Episcopal Church
"Will Our Faith Have Children?" Christian Formation
February, 2003
Clinician IL Grade School Music Assn. Dist. 8
Festival March, 2003
Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor
Oak Park River Forest Symphony Orchestra
Mahler Symphony # 3, March, 2003
Lecture and Performer A Musical Journey!
Three Magnificent Churches Chicago IL April, 2003
Clinician Goodrich High School
April, 2003
Tour Conductor - Schola Choir Tour to Milwaukee
All Saints Cathedral, Milwaukee April, 2003
Conductor and Artistic Director - Handel Week 2003
April - May, 2003
Clinician Gateway Festivals
May, 2003 Pick Staiger Concert Hall
Conductor/Concert Presenter Midwest Kodaly Music
Educators of America - Concert by the Madrigals
3 October, 2003
Recitalist With Glad Adoration: Bach and Beyond
United Lutheran Church Oak Park, IL 5 Oct. 2003
Conference Musician - Chicago Diocese Convention
Oakbrook, IL November 2003
Guest Artist Windy City String Ensemble
Oak Park, IL December 2003
Conductor and Artistic Director Handel Week 2004
February, 2004
Tour Conductor - Madrigal Choir Tour to Atlanta
St. Phillip Cathedral, Atlanta February, 2004
Clinician Minnehaha Academy Singers
28 March, 2004
Clinician Rialto Children's Choir
March, 2004 Joliet, Illinois
Clinician Rockford High School Choir
Minnesota March, 2004
Judge 2004 Gruenstein Memorial Organ Competition
River Forest, IL April, 2004
Tour Conductor Schola Choir to Boston
April, 2004
Musician for Ecumenical Service
Episcopal/Catholic/Lutheran
Grace Church, Oak Park, 6 June 2004
Presenter Liturgy, the Child and Song:
Singing their Story, Diocese of Chicago,
28 August Evanston, IL
Recitalist Kingsway United Methodist Church
3 October, 2004 Springfield, MO
Presenter Worship with Integrity: What, how why, whom
Springfield Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
Springfield, MO 4 October, 2004
Presenter and Musician Diocesan Convention Liturgy
as formation presentation and musician for convention
12-13 November, 2004
Tour Conductor The Grace Church Madrigal Choir
Evensong at Washington National Cathedral, Feb, 2005
Conductor and Artistic Director Handel Week 2005
February, 2005
Tour Conductor The Grace Church Schola Choir
To Indianapolis, IN, April, 2005
Clinician Windy City Classic - Performing Arts
Consultants, River Grove, IL 15 April, 2005
Author Pipe Organs of Chicago, Chauncey Park Press
July, 2005
Presenter Liturgy, the Child and Song:
Singing their Story “Whose Church is it Anyway” event
Diocese of Chicago September, 2005 Mundelein, IL
Recitalist - Trinity Lutheran Church
Glencoe, Illinois - 18 September, 2005
Presenter and Musician Diocesan Convention
Liturgy as formation presentation and musician for
convention November, 2005
Organ Comptetition Judge 2006 Gruenstein
Memorial Organ Competion - Grace Lutheran Church,
River Forest, IL 8 April, 2006
Clinician Miramonte High School Choir
Oak Park, IL - 10 April, 2006
Tour Conductor The Grace Church Schola Choir
Philadelphia, PA, April, 2006
Editor ChicAGO Centenary Anthology Published by
World Library Press in celebration of the centenary of the
Chicago Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
June, 2006
Guest Artists Madrigal Septet sings Biebl “Ave Maria”
With Windy City String Ensemble after Penderecki
“Threnody on the Victims of Hiroshima” 10 June, 2006
Clinician Indianapolis Youth Chorale Master Singers
24 June, 2006 at Grace Church
(hosted performance, also)
Conductor “Do it Yourself Mikado” First United Church
Oak Park, IL part of 3rd Annual Summer Sings! Series
27 June, 2006
Steering Committee Member, Instigator ChicAGO 2006
National Convention of the American Guild of Organists
Planning began in 1999. 2 - 6 July, 2006, Chicago
Clinician PBA Music Reading Session at ChicAGO 2006
National Convention 6 July, 2006
4. COMPOSER: 1981 - present
[Annotated samples from complete works]
Songs of Distress, Exultation, and Victory Op. 1
I. I Called to the Lord
II. For I know That My Redeemer Lives
III. None of Us Lives to Himself
IV. I am the Resurrection and the Life
V. To Him Who Loves Us
VI. As I Saw this, I Heard Around the Throne
For soli, chorus, and organ, privately published by
Concordia University in 1981.
Chorale Prelude on "Schmücke Dich"
Bicinium for organ.
Published 1986 by Belwin Mills.
God of Majesty
Commissioned by Trinity Lutheran Church
in Roselle,IL. and Linnae Heinz for SSAATTBB
unaccompanied choir in March, 1987.
Partita on "Erhält Uns, Herr" Op. 2
Thema
I. Pastorella
II. Presto
III. Largo
IV. Presto
V. Bicinium
VI. Finale - Allegro Spiritoso
Winning composition of the Cleveland American
Guild of Organists composition competition
21 July, 1989. Published in 1989 by Belwin Mills.
i am a little church
Extended unaccompanied choral work
commissioned by the Pro-Arte Chorale,
October 1986.
Festival Setting of "Hyfrydol"
For Children's Chorus, Brass Quintet, Organ,
Percussion and Congregation commissioned by
Concordia Mutual Life and premiered at the
April, 1989 Children's Choir Festival. Later
performed at the 36th annual American
Guild of Organists Children's Choir Festival
in Rockford, IL., February, 1995.
Chorale Prelude on "Herzliebster Jesu"
Work for organ published by Belwin Mills in 1994.
Chorale Prelude on "Herr, Ich habe Misgehandelt"
Accepted for publication in upcoming Organ
Method Book by Wayne Leupold with Belwin Mills.
Passacaglia Op. 3
Extended organ work published by Belwin Mills in
1995.
Alabaster Boxes
Commissioned by the Heritage Chorale
in celebration of their 25th anniversary.
August, 2004
Nuptial Processional or Tuba Tune
Published in ChicAGO Centenary Anthology,
June 2006
N.B. In addition to the above works, there are
more than one hundred unpublished works in
a wide variety of genres.
5. WORK IN THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
1988 - present
Armstrong Elementary School - 4 years
Decatur Classical School - 4 years
Donoghue Elementary School - 1 year
Fermi Elementary School - 4 years
Gale Elementary School - 2 years
Haines Elementary School - 2 years
Murray Elementary School - 4 years
Reavis Elementary School - 2 years
Typically, the work was with a select chorus that involved
Kodaly-oriented music education, solfège, rhythmic reading
and vocal education for third and fourth graders. Many
programs however grew to serve many other grades. These
institutions were served under the auspices of the Chicago
Children's Choir. As In-School Director of the program, I
was responsible for coordinating programs in twenty two
schools.
6. SOLOIST: 1982 - present
Oratorio
Zabriskie-Before the War-Nortwestern University-Nov. 1982
Bach-Magnificat-Northwestern University-Jan. 1983
Carissimi-Jepthe-Chicago Chamber Choir-Oct. 1984
Bach-Magnificat-Concordia College-Feb. 1985
Bach-Cantata 150-Chicago Chamber Choir-Mar. 1985
Stravinsky-Mass-Chicago Chamber Choir-May 1985
Handel-Semele-Chicago Chamber Choir-Oct. 1985
Handel-Chandos Anthem # 2-Chicago Chamber Choir-May 1986
Mozart-Coronation Mass-Chicago Chamber Choir-May 1986
Monteverdi-Orfeo-Chicago Chamber Choir-Oct. 1986
Britten-Rejoice in the Lamb-Chicago Chamber Choir-Mar. 1987
Oberg-Kyrie and Gloria-Lutheran Choir of Chicago-May 1987
Handel-O Sing to God-Chicago Chamber Choir-June, 1987
Handel-Dixit Dominus-Chicago Chamber Choir-Oct. 1987
Mozart-Mass in C-Illiana Chorus-Ap. 1989
Purcell-3 anthems- Iliana Chorus-Ap. 1989
Schütz-Christmas Oratorio-Park Forest Singers-Dec. 1995
Opera
Sullivan-Utopia Limited-Light Opera Works-Dec.1984
-Captain Fitzbattleaxe
Offenbach-Ba-Ta-Clan-DePaul University-May 1985-Fe-ni-han
Sullivan-The Gondoliers-Light Opera Works-June 1985-Luiz
Romberg-The Student Prince-Light Opera Works-Dec. 1985-Detlef
Monteverdi-The Coronation of Poppea-DePaul University
-Feb. 1986-Valetto
Verdi-Falstaff-Chamber Opera of Chicago-May 1986-Fenton
Floyd-Slow Dusk-DePaul University-May 1986-Micah
Sullivan-The Mikado-Light Opera Works-June 1986-NankiPoo
Sullivan-The Sorcerer-Gilbert and Sullivan Soc.-May 1987-Alexis
Sullivan-The Sorcerer-Light Opera Works-June 1987-Alexis
Strauß-The Chocolate Soldier-Light Opera Works-Aug. 1987-Alexius
Sullivan-H.M.S. Pinafore-College of DuPage-Mar. 1988
-Ralph Rackstraw
Lehar-The Land of Smiles-Light Opera Works-June 1988-SouChong
Lehar-The Merry Widow-Pamiro Opera,Green Bay-Sept. 1989
-St. Brioche
Bernstein-West Side Story-Pamiro Opera, Green Bay-Sept. 1991-Jet
Bernstein-Candide-Illinois Philharmonic-May, 1996
Lieder
Schubert-Die Schöne Müllerin-Univ. of Mo. St. Louis-April, 1981
Schumann-Dichterliebe-Concordia College-July, 1982
Schumann-Dichterliebe-North Shore Musician's Club-Feb. 1986
Schumann-Dichterliebe-Highland Park Senior Center-Aug. 1988
Schubert-Winterreise-Hyde Park-May, 1989
Critical Commentary - Conducting
"The present conductor, Dennis Northway, a 37-year-old bow-tied, pony-tailed fireball . . ." - Don Snider The Star
"Of course, none of these fun gimmicks would mean very much if they weren't so cleverly integrated into the overall story, or if the music were not in such superb hands. The singing is top-notch, with tight ensembling throughout and every patter syllable understandable even during chaotic scenes . The tempos are kept lively and swinging throughout, thanks to spirited conductor Dennis Northway who is also LOW's chorus master. "
- Dennis Polkow Pioneer Press
"I'm sure others, like me, held their breath so not to miss a single delicious note and probably were as surprised as I to find their eyes mist with the shear perfection of the moment. It is an experience I will revisit in my memory often as one of those special times, a true 'night divine.'" - Carol Roberts The Star
“And the Chicago Children’s Choir, rehearsed by Dennis E. Northway perfromed sensitively.”
- Howard Reich The Chicago Tribune
"Directed by their conductor, Dr. Dennis E. Northway, the choir of approximately 40 singers sang a varied programme of sacred and secular music from their repertoire. Two early pieces by Palestrina and Eccard respectively showed that the Choir was a well-disciplined group with a cohesive choral sound and that they were equally at home with block harmony or counterpoint."
- Isle of Wight County Press [England]
"Dennis E. Northway's chorus deserves special mention for accurate, clear singing."
- Sarah Bryan Miller The Chicago Tribune
"A Cappella singing is a bit like a high wire act. When it doesn't work, it's painful to watch. But when it does, it can take your breath away. The Park Forest Singers took us on a musical journey in the acoustically exquisite e Center for Arts and Technology on Saturday that reminded us the most beautiful instrument is still the human voice. Try to imagine singing without any instrument - your only guide the center of the sound wave. This not only takes practice but an extreme amount of trust in one another. Under Dennis Northway's capable guidance, the Park Forest Singers functioned as a well-oiled machine that not only tackled the technical challenges of the music but performed these songs with an ardor to match their bouncy conductor. Singing with brute force at times, and other times melting into a near whisper, these singers seemed to breath as one as their voices merged into flawless harmonies."
- Terry Loncaric The Star
" The cast, smoothly directed by Dominic Missimi, is a crackerjack ensemble, with expert work by choreographer Nancy Teinowitz, chorus master Dennis Northway and conductor Lawrence Rapchak and his orchestra."
- Hedy Weiss The Chicago Sun-Times
"Northway's brilliance as a conductor and his enthusiasm for the performance are infectious. Both the chorus and the audience benefit when the 'leader of the band' enjoys what he is doing."
- Joanne Zerkel The Star
It is clear this is going to be an intimate "Patience" from the moment Dennis Northway begins the overture. Challenged by the Drury's tiny orchestra pit, the conductor has reduced Sullivan's instrumentation to 13 players, miraculously retaining the original shimmer and buoyancy. As the evening progresses, the ear is almost tricked into believing that a full ensemble is playing. . . Northway's command of G&S style paid enormous benefits in the pit, where the musicians animated the score. from "Patience' a virtue on intimate stage"
- Donald Rosenberg Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
Critical Commentary - Singing
"The soloists were outstanding without exception . . . Tenor Dennis Northway as Ralph Rackstraw made the most of his considerable range. "Refrain, Audacious Tar," his duet with the lovely Josephine (Elizabeth Gottlieb) was commendable in terms of both singing and acting."
- Patricia Lenoard The Daily Journal
"Among the singers, Dennis Northway's Alexis is Tenor tender."
- Lawrence Bommer Windy City Times
"A notable exception Sunday was tenor Dennis Northway, who was most impressive in Handel's Fifth Chandos Anthem."
-Robert C. Marsh The Chicago Sun-Times
"Taking this demanding role, the Singers' artistic director Dennis Northway stepped away from the podium into a vocal role, a position he clearly loves. He strongly and precisely led the rest of the vocal and instrumental musicians as well as the audience, eschewing his usual impish demeanor for the solemnity of the musical subject."
- Carol Roberts The Star
Feature Articles on Dennis Northway
"Spotlight - New Director brings life to Park Forest Singers"
by Terry Loncaric
in The Star 8 December, 1994
"Now Sing! - Choir Master"
by Susan Montgomery
in the Pioneer Press Oak Leaves 1 October, 1997
"Conductor's Background a Match for the Desert Song"
by Ted Shen
in the Chicago Tribune, 25 December, 1998
“Organic Organ Comes of Age”
by Peter Bergin
in the Explorer, 23 February, 2001.
“Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound”
by Steve Shay
in the Oak Leaves, 18 April, 2001.
"Musician to show off organ’s 'color'"
by Walter Skriba
in The Times, 25 October 2002.
|
