Children's Festival Chorus of Pittsburgh

Christine Jordanoff
Artistic Directorr

Christine Jordanoff, Professor and Director of Choral Organizations at Duquesne University, has created the opportunity for hundreds of beginning and experienced teachers to build or reshape their approaches to choral education by designing an exceptional laboratory setting in tandem with The Children's Festival Chorus program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jordanoff, artistic director of the program since 1986, has guided this three-tiered choral program to its present level of national renown and success with her unique approach combining musical skills with artistry.

A graduate of the Kodály Musical Training Institute who has taught and conducted in Hungary, Jordanoff is known for her many contributions to music education in America. She has held leadership roles in many professional organizations, including the presidency of the Organization of American Kodály Educators, and is nationally recognized as a leader in the movement to implement the National Standards in Arts Education in higher education.

As a conductor, Jordanoff has prepared choruses for numerous symphonies and operas includingTosca starring Luciano Pavarotti. Her choirs are frequently heard on television and radio broadcasts, and have been the feature of two public television documentaries. She has produced an educational video,"Movement in the Middle School Choral Rehearsal,"as well as"The Choral Triad Video Workshop,"six instructional videos and workbook, also featuring Grammy winner Robert Page. The series presents choral techniques for children, teenagers and adults along with addressing basic instructional skills needed by the untrained singer who is teaching vocal music.

Under her artistic leadership, The Children's Festival Chorus has performed with Marvin Hamlisch, the New York Voices, the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble, Robert Page, Mariss Jansons, Charles Dutoit and numerous other artists. They have been a featured choir at national, divisional and state level conferences of MENC, ACDA and National Pastoral Musicians.

A frequent clinician, guest conductor and visiting faculty member throughout the United States, Jordanoff also created a similar three tiered choral program for elementary through high school students at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City from 1993 to 1998.

Her most recent pursuits include developing a teacher training and choral outreach program for disadvantaged and under-served children in the Pittsburgh region.