Dr. Robert Strauss, Artistic Director
Dr. Robert Strauss has been the Artistic Director of the Rochester Gay Men's Chorus since 2009, leading the chorus in diverse styles ranging from pop to Broadway, classical to folk, and almost everything in between. Under his direction, the chorus has shared the stage with local, national, and international performers including Lea Delaria, Jason & DeMarco, Pandora Boxx, and sung with such diverse instruments as saxophone, clarinet, harp, bagpipes, and accordion, as well as singing the world premiere of a piece written for them, Sonnet XXIX by Eastman Faculty member Benton Hess.
Strauss brings with him not only a dedication to the artistry of the voice, and a commitment to communication through music, but also a strong background in vocal pedagogy. As a performer, he has been praised for his sensitive, intelligent interpretation, his attention to musical and textual nuance, and his versatile tenor voice. He conveys these principles to the chorus, which in turn helps them to be stronger performers and to realize the mission of the chorus itself.
In addition to his previous choral directing experience (Women's Chorus, Radford University; Women's Chorus, Nardin Academy; Adult Church Choirs in Christiansburg, Virginia, Morgantown, West Virginia and, more recently, Trinity Episcopal Church in Buffalo), he is sought after as both a singer, voice teacher and a director. Dr. Strauss serves on the voice faculties of both Nazareth College (where he also serves as the opera workshop director) and the Fredonia School of Music, as well as serving as Auditions Chair of the Central New York-Finger Lakes chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Of the chorus, Strauss says "I am privileged to be able to work with this great bunch of singers - this great bunch of people - each week, and to help further the mission of the chorus. I look forward to every performance, large or small, and our interactions with audience members, and I am thrilled with the diversity of repertoire and depth of meaning we share."
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