St. Louis Symphony Orchestra celebrates Amy Kaiser and her defining 27-year tenure with her final concerts as St. Louis Symphony Chorus Director, April 30-May 1

(April 19, 2022, St. Louis, MO) – The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra celebrates its remarkable, 27-year partnership with Amy Kaiser, St. Louis Symphony Chorus Director, in concerts at Powell Hall, April 30-May 1. These concerts mark the final performances with Kaiser as Chorus Director, a position to which she was appointed in 1995 by SLSO Conductor Laureate Leonard Slatkin.

The April 30-May 1 concerts opens with the first SLSO performances of the full orchestral version of Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst, arranged by Jannina Norpoth. Concerts include choral-orchestral works including Claude Debussy’s Nocturnes and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, the final work performed by the Chorus under Kaiser’s preparation. Soprano Katie Van Kooten and baritone Elliot Madore make their SLSO debuts in performances of A Sea Symphony. The concerts, presented by Mary Pillsbury and sponsored by the Whitaker Foundation, are 8:00pm CDT, Saturday, April 30, and 3:00pm CDT, Sunday, May 1. Kaiser will also lead the Pre-Concert Conversation, sponsored by Washington University Physicians—a deep dive into the program’s music, held one hour before each concert in Powell Hall’s auditorium.

Amy Kaiser, St. Louis Symphony Chorus Director, said, “I love working with the amazing singers in the St Louis Symphony Chorus and with all my wonderful colleagues and friends in the SLSO community. It’s been a grand adventure with many lifetime high peaks.”

Stéphane Denève, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Music Director, said, “When I first met Amy many years ago, I knew she was a special musician with a deep love and respect for music. As I’ve gotten to know her over the years, I’ve also come to cherish her larger-than-life personality, sincere care for musicians, and amazing ability to extract the very best from our wonderful Chorus. The incredible quality of our chorus is a testament to Amy’s gifts as a musician, leader, and friend. While I am sad to see the end of her tenure, I know her legacy will continue through the very special voices in our Chorus.”

Jennifer Nitchman and Chris Tantillo, co-chairs of the SLSO Musicians’ Council, said, “Amy Kaiser’s musicianship and dedication to her craft are second to none in our industry. We treasure our collaborations with the magnificent St Louis Symphony Chorus, and many of those performances will be remembered as highlights of our careers. We have endless gratitude for Amy’s years of impeccable preparation of the chorus that made those unforgettable moments possible. Last but not least, Amy is much loved for her warmth, enthusiasm, and friendship to all. She will be greatly missed, and we wish her all the best in this next chapter of her life.”

Kaiser’s first concert as Chorus Director took place on October 21, 1995, with Slatkin—then the SLSO’s Music Director—leading John Corigliano’s Of Rage and Remembrance and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection.” In the 27 years since, Kaiser led close to 800 rehearsals of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, preparing the acclaimed ensemble for nearly every type of SLSO concert, including classical and holiday concerts; community performances at Queeny Park, Forest Park, and other public spaces; performances of film music including The Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, and The Muppet Christmas Carol; and special performances including collaborations with internationally renowned artists like Andrea Bocelli.

She has garnered a reputation for her ability to prepare a variety of music from Baroque favorites like G.F. Handel’s Messiah—which she has prepared 11 times in her SLSO tenure—to 20th century works including Leonard Bernstein’s “Kaddish” Symphony, Arnold Schoenberg’s Friede auf Erden, György Ligeti’s Clocks and Clouds, and Igor Stravinsky’s Les Noces. She became known by SLSO musicians and guest artists collaborating with the SLSO for her meticulous attention to detail and thorough preparation of the chorus.

Working with four SLSO music directors—Leonard Slatkin, Hans Vonk, David Robertson, and Stéphane Denève—Kaiser refined the Chorus’ reputation for impeccable artistry. Under her direction, critics have called the Chorus “eloquent,” “excellent as always,” and an ensemble with “perfect clarity” and that sings “with a gratifying power and precision.” She became a favorite of SLSO guest conductors and collaborated with dozens throughout her tenure. Her expertise in choral preparation led to critically acclaimed performances in many languages, including French, Italian, German, Russian, Hungarian, Latin, and English.

She led the Chorus in several appearances to Carnegie Hall in New York City, with an emphasis on the works of John Adams, including performances of On the Transmigration of Souls and The Gospel According to the Other Mary. She also led the preparation of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, Gustav Holst’s The Planets, Johannes Brahms’ A German Requiem, and Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes for concerts at Carnegie.

A New York native, Amy spent the first part of her career as a freelance choral director, having guest conducted for the Berkshire Choral Festival in Massachusetts, Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival, and conducted more than 50 performances with the Metropolitan Opera Guild. She was the Music Director of the Dessoff Choirs in New York for 12 seasons.

Tickets for the April 30-May 1 SLSO concerts start at $15 and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700. A full concert calendar is available at slso.org or on the SLSO’s mobile app available for iOS or Android.

Visit slso.org/protocols for updated information about the SLSO’s health and safety protocols.

The SLSO’s 142nd season runs through June 2022. For more information, visit slso.org.