EVANSTON, Ill. --- Dean Toni-Marie Montgomery announced today that Donald Nally has been appointed to the Bienen School of Music faculty. He will join the school in Fall 2012 as a tenured professor and director of choral organizations.

Over the past twenty years, Dr. Nally has established a distinguished career conducting a variety of opera choruses and other professional choral groups. A former chorus master for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Welsh National Opera, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia, he currently holds positions as music director of Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble and as conductor of The Crossing, a Philadelphia-based professional chamber choir.  Under Dr. Nally’s leadership, The Crossing, which is one of only a few professional choirs in the world dedicated to performing new and recently composed works, has pursued collaborations with numerous performing ensembles, including the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Bang on a Can, Piffaro-the Renaissance Band, and Tempesta Di Mare Baroque Chamber Orchestra. 

This season Donald Nally is a visiting professor in conducting at Indiana University and the University of Illinois. His music is published by Paraclete Press and his book, Conversations with Joseph Flummerfelt, is published by Scarecrow Press. 

Dr. Nally has garnered many awards and honors during his career. He was recently selected as the 2012 winner of the Chorus America Louis Botto Award, which is given to individuals who have demonstrated innovative action and entrepreneurial zeal in developing a professional choral ensemble.  In 2002, he won the Chorus America Margaret Hillis National Award for Excellence in Choral Music. That honor recognized his work with the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia.

Donald Nally received the D.M.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an M.M. from Westminster Choir College, and a B.M. from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.