Effective Aug. 1, Mr. Jonathan Palant has been appointed the new artistic director of the Turtle Creek Chorale according to an announcement today from Mr. Peter Anderson, board chair.
The announcement came immediately after Mr. Palant’s selection was announced to the Chorale membership. Mr. Palant will succeed Dr. Timothy Seelig, retiring at the end of this season.
“I am both humbled and thrilled to have been named artistic director of the Turtle Creek Chorale,” said Palant. “I look forward to continuing the level of excellence demonstrated by the Chorale over its 27-year history. I have the utmost respect for the Chorale’s membership and wholeheartedly believe in its mission statement. I look forward to becoming an active member of the greater Dallas arts community. With very large shoes to fill and with high aspirations, I promise to give my all to this organization and to the City of Dallas.”
Co-chaired by Doug Mitchell, Chorale president, and David Cegelski, board member, the Artistic Search Committee submitted the Chorale’s evaluations of the final three candidates to the board of directors following a national search, which concluded this past weekend. Each of the finalists auditioned with the full Chorale.
“The process produced three superb candidates and the Chorale has found the perfect fit,” said Mr. Anderson. “Jonathan Palant is the most wonderful choice for this position, and Dallas is going to be very proud of our selection.”
“The membership was impressed with all three finalists and enjoyed rehearsing with each of them,” said Mr. Mitchell. “They connected with Jonathan’s warmth and humor, his passion for making music and his vision to continue and expand the Chorale’s mission.”
“I believe Jonathan will be an excellent match for the TCC,” said Mr. Cegelski. “He will bring new life, ideas and creativity, ensuring that the Chorale’s artistic legacy and excellence will continue to flourish. His vision for expanded programs, intergenerational concerts and further outreach to the Dallas community are an excellent match with our mission to educate, entertain, unite and uplift.”
The search process began last fall and attracted candidates from across the United States. The six-month search included numerous interviews, video/DVD conducting examples, a 2007-08 Season Design Proposal—and culminated in auditions with the singing members last weekend.
Mr. Palant is currently adjunct assistant professor of Choral Music at Madonna University in Livonia, Mich., and past conductor of the Madonna Chorale. He is a graduate assistant at Michigan State University in East Lansing, where he is conductor of the Collegiate Choir and the assistant conductor of the Men’s Glee Club of Michigan State. This May, Mr. Palant will receive a doctor of musical arts degree in choral conducting at Michigan State University. Palant received a master of music degree in choral conducting from Temple University in Philadelphia, and his bachelor of music degree in music education is from the University of Michigan.
Mr. Palant has previously conducted the Roxborough Community Men’s Chorus and the Spruce Street Singers in Philadelphia, was assistant director of the Cleveland Choral Arts Society and was a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. He has led choirs on tours of Denmark, Sweden, England and Puerto Rico.
Mr. Palant is an accomplished composer, director and musical arranger. Both the University School in Cleveland and the Michigan State University Men’s Glee Club have performed his works. Alliance Music is set to release his arrangement of the Chinese folk song Da Hai Ah, Gu Siang, by Wang Li-Ping, later this year.
A Boston native, Mr. Palant has a long history in music, beginning as a percussionist with the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and the Young Artist Orchestra. He has performed under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, Leonard Slatkin, Seiji Ozawa, Larry Radcliffe and David Hoose.
He taught at the secondary level in California and Ohio. His concert band at San Pasqual High School in Escondido, Ca., was featured in the Dreamworks/SKG film, Almost Famous.
Mr. Palant is active in the music community and profession as a state chairman for the American Choral Directors Association in Michigan. He is also a member of the College Music Society, Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses and MENC: The National Association for Music Education.
Mr. Palant will assume the duties of artistic director from Dr. Seelig, who is concluding his 20th season this summer with special concerts June 22, 24 and July 8. Dr. Seelig will be the honored guest of a “Roast and Toast” at the Lakewood Theatre July 7, the day prior to the Chorale’s Fond Farewell concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center.
The Turtle Creek Chorale is celebrating 27 years as one of the most-beloved men’s community chorus in America, with 36 compact disc releases. The Chorale’s 200-plus members volunteer more than 100,000 hours annually to community service and performances. Community partners include WFAA, the Dallas Morning News, SRJ Marketing, American Airlines, Gil’s Elegant Catering, and the Hilton Park Cities. In 2005, the Chorale was the subject of an award-winning documentary, The Power of Harmony.
