Role

:

Conductor

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Film

 

 

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Robert Porco is a renowned conductor and choral director who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on August 22, 1953, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Porco grew up in a family that valued music and the arts. His father, Robert Porco Sr., was a well-known organist and choir director, and his mother, Mary Porco, was a talented pianist. Porco began his musical education at an early age, studying piano and voice with his parents. He later attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. He then went on to study choral conducting at the Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where he earned a Master of Music degree. After completing his studies, Porco began his career as a choral director, working with various choirs and orchestras throughout the United States. In 1989, he was appointed the director of choral activities at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained for 20 years. During his tenure at Case Western Reserve University, Porco established himself as one of the leading choral directors in the country. He founded the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, which he led for 17 years, and also served as the director of the university's choral ensembles. Under his leadership, the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus became known for its exceptional performances of choral works by composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, and Verdi. Porco's work with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus earned him numerous accolades and awards. In 2005, he received the Robert Shaw Conducting Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which recognizes outstanding conductors of choral music. He was also named the 2009 Choral Conductor of the Year by the American Choral Directors Association. In addition to his work with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Porco has conducted numerous other choral ensembles and orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. He has collaborated with some of the world's most renowned conductors, including Franz Welser-Möst, Christoph von Dohnányi, and Pierre Boulez. Porco's most notable performances include his conducting of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus at the 2006 Blossom Festival, which was broadcast live on PBS. He also conducted the world premiere of Jennifer Higdon's choral work "On the Death of the Righteous" with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus in 2008. In 2009, Porco left Case Western Reserve University to become the director of choruses for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. In this role, he oversees the orchestra's three choruses and is responsible for programming and conducting choral works for the orchestra's performances. Under Porco's leadership, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's choruses have continued to excel. In 2018, he conducted the orchestra and chorus in a performance of Verdi's Requiem, which was hailed as one of the highlights of the orchestra's season. Porco's contributions to the world of classical music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In addition to the Robert Shaw Conducting Award and the Choral Conductor of the Year award, he has received the Cleveland Arts Prize, the Ohio Governor's Award for the Arts, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to his work as a conductor and choral director, Porco is also a respected educator and mentor.

More....