James Kallembach

James Kallembach
Senior Lecturer in music; Director, Choral Activities
Cobb 429
773.702.6063
Teaching at UChicago since 2005

About

James Kallembach conducts the Motet Choir and the Rockefeller Chapel Choir. Prior to his appointment, he was Assistant Director of Choirs at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, and served as Assistant Director of the Richmond Symphony Chorus. He has also served as Director of the Kokomo Symphony Chorus and as Artistic Director of the Grande Prairie Singers. Kallembach holds a doctorate of music degree in choral conducting from Indiana University, Bloomington. He has studied conducting with Paul Hillier, Jan Harrington, Carmen Téllez, Melinda O'Neal, and John Poole; he has also studied composition with Sven-David Sandström, Augusta Reed Thomas, Claude Baker, and Don Freund. Still an active composer with ongoing performances, his work has been premiered at the 1997 ALEA III International Composition Competition and published by Corda Music in the United Kingdom. He was Artistic Director for the Sounds of Faith documentary concert that recently aired on Chicago PBS. At the 2009 Oregon Bach Festival he lectured and conducted workshops and premiere performances for several composers participating in the festival. He has written for Opera News and the Choral Journal (October and November 2010). He has taught at Chicago since 2005.