Professor and Department Chair, Performing Arts

You are here: �鶹��Ƶ College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Daniel Abraham

Daniel Abraham Professor and Department Chair, Performing Arts Performing Arts

Additional Positions at �鶹��Ƶ
Degrees: BM Music, University of Massachusetts
MM Historical Musicology & Conducting, University of Maryland
PhD, Musicology, ABD, University of Maryland
Bio: Choral/orchestral conductor and musicologist; specialist in 17th- and 18th-century music. As a conductor and scholar, Abraham has often sought out works previously unknown to present-day audiences and has been responsible for numerous world, North American, and regional early-music modern premieres with many performances using materials he has edited from archival manuscript sources. Abraham has conducted performances before two National Meetings of the American Musicological Society, has been broadcast nationally on NPR’s Performance Today, Great Sacred Music, and Sunday Baroque, and has appeared at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Music Center at Strathmore, the National Women’s Museum of the Arts, the National Portrait Gallery, the Cosmos Club, and many other venues in the eastern United States. Guest conducting appearances include concerts with the Trinity Wall Street Baroque Orchestra and Trinity Chorus (New York), as conductor of the Massachusetts Northwestern All-State Chorus, and internationally with various university and professional ensembles in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, and in Egypt where he was Visiting Distinguished Professor of the Arts. He has garnered praise for his performances from many noteworthy sources, including Gramophone, the Washington Post, Choral Journal, BBC Magazine, Fanfare, Diapason, BBC Radio 3, American Record Review, and Early Music America. In addition to his work in early music, he is a champion of new composition particularly of American and Canadian choral composers.

He served as Artistic Director and Conductor of The Bach Sinfonia for twenty-one seasons, appeared on the nationally syndicated PBS series History Detectives, and has prepared choruses for national television broadcast including the Kennedy Center Honors Gala and Christmas in Washington as well as notable conductors including Lenard Slatkin, Michael Tilson Thomas, Leon Botstein and with artists including Ray Charles, Andrea Bocelli, and Kristin Chenoweth. He has presented papers before the American Musicological Society and at national and regional meetings of the American Choral Director Association.

In addition to his six commercial audio recordings on the Chandos, Dorian and Sonoluminus labels, his recent scholarly work includes: the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funded multidisciplinary immersive audio project “Hearing Bach’s Acoustic” with audio technologist Braxton Boren, interactive-media designer Yana Sakellion, and audio engineer Rogerio Naressi; a critical edition of choral music by Heinrich Biber for Carus Verlag; and co-editing with Alicia Kopfstein-Penk and Andrew Weaver the volume Leonard Bernstein and Washington, DC: Works, Politics, and Performance for Eastman Studies in Music (University of Rochester Press). His next commercial recording, ALTISSIMA, with baroque trumpet virtuoso Josh Cohen, was released in January 2023 on the Chandos label. Published in Choral Journal, editorial work for The Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Edition (OUP), and Cambridge University Press. Past grant panelist for the Maryland State Arts Council, DC Commission on the Arts, and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery Country (MD). Past President of the MD/DC State Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Conducting studies and additional training with Paul Traver, Helmuth Rilling, William Weinert, Frieder Bernius, and David Hoose. Abraham is a sought-after clinician, adjudicator, and festival ensemble conductor.

See Also
For the Media: To request an interview for a news story, call �鶹��Ƶ Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.; �鶹��Ƶ Experts

Teaching

Fall 2024

MUS-021 Private Instrument Study: Conducting
MUS-022 Private Instrument Study: Conducting
MUS-121 Private Instrument/Vocal Study: Conducting
MUS-122 Private Instrument/Vocal Study: Conducting
PERF-043 University Chamber Singers

Spring 2025

MUS-021 Private Instrument Study: Conducting
MUS-022 Private Instrument Study: Conducting
MUS-043 University Chamber Singers
MUS-121 Private Instrument/Vocal Study: Conducting
MUS-122 Private Instrument/Vocal Study: Conducting
MUS-441 Adv St in Music Hist/Ethnmusic: Hearing/Performing Early Music

Partnerships & Affiliations

State President (Maryland/District of Columbia), 2009-2011<br>Interest Session Chair, Eastern Division, 2008-2010
Panelist/Reviewer, 2004-2006
Secretary-Treasurer, Capitol Chapter, 2000-2003
The Bach Sinfonia & Sinfonia Voci
Music & Artistic Director, 1995-2016
Chorus Master, 2009-present
Chair, Research & Publications: Monographs Sub-committee (National), 2016-present

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Research Interests

Performance and research in baroque and classical period music (17th and 18th centuries); issues in performance practice; the music of Bach and Handel, choral music research and pedagogy.

Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

WAMMIE��Nominations as Best Classical Conductor/Director & Best Classical Chamber Ensemble (Bach Sinfonia), Washington Area Music Association, 2013
WAMMIE��Nominations as Best Classical Conductor/Director & Best Classical Chamber Ensemble (Bach Sinfonia), Washington Area Music Association, 2012
WAMMIE��Nominations (2) for Best Classical Album (The Art of Vivaldi's Lute and J.S. Bach: The Motets), 2012
Finalist [2nd Prize], 2011 American Prize, Bach Sinfonia Voci, Choral Performance (Professional Ensemble)
WAMMIE Nominations for Best Classical Conductor/Director & Best Classical Chamber Ensemble (Bach Sinfonia), Washington Area Music Association, 2011
Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Performing and Visual Arts, �鶹��Ƶ in Cairo, Egypt, spring 2005 [Note: not affiliated with �鶹��Ƶ, Washington, D.C.]
Daniel M. Palmeroy Prize, American Handel Society & Maryland Handel Festival for Performance and Scholarship in Eighteenth-Century Music, 1998
Conductor/Participant, Oregon Bach Festival, Summer 1997
Irving Lowens Award, American Musicological Society, Capital Chapter, Excellence in Student Musicological Research, 1996

Professional Presentations

Preparing the Parts: Efficient Marking for Choral-Instrumental Performance. Conference Interest Session. American Choral Directors Association, Eastern Division Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 13, 2010
New Editions of Old Music. Conference Session for the College and University Conductor’s Repertoire Forum. American Choral Directors Association, Eastern Division Conference, Hartford, Connecticut, February 19, 2008
Collegiate Honor Choir Chair, 2008 Eastern Division Conference, American Choral Directors Association, Hartford, Connecticut, February 2008��
Collegiate Honor Choir Chair, 2006 Eastern Division Conference, American Choral Directors Association, New York, New York, February 2006
Appearance on premiere season of "The History Detectives," PBS Television, 2003
Frequent clinician, adjudicator, and festival conductor throughout the eastern United States and Canada

Recordings

Zelenka:��The Capriccios. The Bach Sinfonia; R.J. Kelley &��Alexandra Cook, natural horns. Sono Luminus Records, November 2012
The Art of Vivaldi's Lute. The Bach Sinfonia; Ronn McFarlane, lute; William Bauer, Viola d'amore; Jennifer Ellis, soprano. Sono Luminus Records, May 2011
J. S. Bach: The Motets. The Bach Sinfonia and Sinfonia Voci; Dorian Records, October 2010
The Forgotten Baroque: Masterworks of the Seventeenth Century. Biber: Stabat Mater [modern premiere recording], Rossi: psalms & Carissimi: Historia di Jephte. The Bach Sinfonia and Sinfonia Voci; Dorian Records, May 2009
George Frideric Handel: Alexander’s Feast or The Power of Music, HWV 75 and Johann Sebastian Bach: Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn’ ihn, BWV 1127. The Bach Sinfonia and Handel Choir of Baltimore. Dorian Records: DSL-20604, December 2006

Selected Reviews of Recordings

“Jan Dismas Zelenka: The Capriccios (Five)—The Bach Sinfonia/Daniel Abraham—Sono Luninus Pure Audio Blu-ray+CD.” Audiophile Audition, October 24, 2013; critical review by John Sunier. [Selection as “Multichannel Disc of the Month”]
“Zelenka: The Capriccios [The Bach Sinfonia]; Blu-ray Audio Review.” Blu-RayDefinition.com, June 23, 2013; critical review by Lawrence D. Devoe
Nelson, David. “Zelenka: A Survey of His Music Now or Very Recently Available on CD.” 58 pages. Czech Music, the Journal of the Dvořák Society (2012; updated on-line: May 2013); “Capriccios ZWV 182/5,190,” pp. 52-53.��
“Johann Sebastian Bach: Motets.” Choral Journal (February 2013), 75-6; critical review by Garrett Saake.
"Vivaldi: Lute Pieces." American Record Guide (November 2011), 189; critical review by Peter Loewen.
"Ronn McFarlane's lute is ever present in this varied and pleasurable programme." Gramophone (October 2011); critical review by Donald Rosenberg.
"Johann Sebastian Bach: Motets." Early Music America 17 (Summer 2011), 21-2; critical review by Karen Cook.
"Vivaldi by Ronn McFarlane and Daniel Abraham." WETA, June 2011; critical review. "Daniel Abraham: Bach's 7 Motets on Dorian." Fanfare 34:4 (March/April 2011); critical review by George Chien.
"Classical: Bach Motets Performed by Bach Sinfonia." The Buffalo News, March 4, 2011; critical review by Mary Kunz Goldman.
"Bach: Motets." American Record Guide (January 2011), 82-3; critical review by Lindsay Koob.
"J.S. Bach: Motets (Bach Sinfonia, Abraham)." Audio Video of Atlanta, December 2010; critical review by Phil Muse.
"Classical CD Reviews: Passion and Lament." Audiophile Audition (July 1, 2010), critical review by Steven Ritter.
"Winning affections: Paul Riley is moved by Daniel Abraham collection of Baroque choral works." BBC Magazine (June 2010), U.S. Reviews, 97; critical review by Paul Riley.
"Recording Reviews: Passion and Lament: Choral Masterworks of the 17th Century." Early Music America (summer 2010), 50-1; critical review by Karen Cook.
"CD Review: Building a Library: Carissimi's Jephte." BBC Radio 3; broadcast: Saturday, May 15, 2010 and podcast available (time: 26:44-1:17:18); critical review by David Vickers.
Recording Reviews: G. F. Handel: Alexander's Feast, or The Power of Music, HWV 75; Johann Sebastian Bach: Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn ihn, BVW 1127; Daniel Abraham, conductor; Dorian Recordings. Choral Journal, September 2007, critical review by C. Leonard Raybon, pp. 71-73.
Recording Review of G. F. Handel: Alexander's Feast / J. S. Bach: Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn ihn, BVW 1127 (Dorian DSL-20604) in Early Music America, September 2007, critical review by Denise Gallo

Selected Publications

Renaissance and Baroque Performance Practice: Invaluable Resources for the Choral Conductor (with James John, co-author). Research Memorandum Series, No. 200. Chorus America: Philadelphia, 2011.
"Vivaldi's Works for Lute and Ensemble” for Indianapolis Early Music Festival, Summer, 2011 [program annotation]
“Mozart’s Requiem: History and its Conclusions” for Handel Choir of Baltimore, May 2011 [program annotation]
“Vivaldi and the Concerto” for The Art of Vivaldi’s Lute, Ronn MacFarlane and The Bach Sinfonia. Sono Luninus, October 2011 [CD recording annotation]
“New Bach Performances: Historically Informed?” Choral Journal, April 2008��
"The London Pleasure Gardens and their Musical Entertainments” for Songs of the London Pleasure Gardens, Brandywine Baroque for Plectra Records, PL20601: December 2006 [CD recording annotation]��
“Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn’ ihn: A newly discovered aria by Johann Sebastian Bach” for Dorian Records: DSL-20604, December 2006 [CD recording annotation]

Grants and Sponsored Research

Maryland State Arts Council: Arts Organization Support for mid-size Organizations, Arts in the Community Grants, and General Operating Support (The Bach Sinfonia): 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (Maryland): Grant for Artistic Organizations & Administrative Support (The Bach Sinfonia): 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Grant from Ernst and Young, LLP: General Arts Support (The Bach Sinfonia): 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
The Dimick Foundation, Artistic Support (The Bach Sinfinia): 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Lockheed-Martin, Arts and Technology Grant (The Bach Sinfonia): 2004
University of Maryland, Project Support Grant, 2002
Prince George’s County Arts Council, 2000

Media Appearances

Selected Feature Articles & Media Interviews

“Early Music is a Capital Idea.” Early Music America 20/1 (Winter 2014): 34-8 by Mark Longaker.��
“Chamber music’s timelessness explored.” The Gazette Newspapers (Maryland), February 2, 2013 by Marie Gullard.
“Spotlight—The Arts Served Daily: The Bach Sinfonia presents Zelenka.” Metro Weekly, May 2, 2012 by Randy Shulman.
“Concert brings Bach to the future at Montgomery College’s Cultural Arts Center; Concert reenacts composer’s job audition to let modern audience decide.” The Gazette Newspapers (Maryland), March 28, 2012 by Cody Calamaio.
“Audience Rates 18th Century Performances in Real–Time Voting.” Washington Examiner. March 27, 2012 by Marie Gullard.
Vivaldi Goes Digital: Bach Sinfonia put multimedia spin on 'The Four Season.'" The Gazette Newspapers (Maryland),May 4, 2011 by Jordan Edwards.
"Concert brings Bach to the future at Montgomery College's Cultural Arts Center; Concert reenacts composer's job audition to let modern audience decide."The Gazette Newspapers (Maryland), May 28, 2012 by Cody Calamato
"Audience Rates 18th Century Performances in Real–Time Voting." Washington Examiner. March 27, 2012 By Marie Gullard
"Vivaldi Goes Digital: Bach Sinfonia puts multimedia spin on 'The Four Seasons.'" The Gazette Newspapers, May 4, 2011 by Jordan Edwards.
"Notes for a Haydn Anniversary." Early Music America, Vol. 15, Winter 2008
"Modern Premiere: Biber." Early Music America, Vol. 14, Fall 2008
"Religion That's Set to Music: The Bach Sinfonia. The Washington Post Express, March 15, 2008 by Andrew Lindemann Malone
"Soundbytes: First complete performance in North America" [Bach, BWV 1127]. Early Music America, Vol. 11, Winter 2005.��
Interviews with Judith Krummeck, WBJC Radio (Baltimore, Maryland) FM 90.9, regarding the upcoming premiere of Bach's rediscovered aria. Broadcasts: October 23-29, 2005��
Extended Interview and Discussion: FM Radio 95 (Cairo, Egypt) on Town Beat; Cultural Activities Program (most important English language arts broadcast in the Middle East). Broadcast: May 2005
"Choral Concert . . ." Akhbar El Nogoom [Leading artistic magazine in the Arabic world], May 7, 2005, p. 31 by Marianne Mahrous
"Fleur, The Obscure: Bach Sinfonia to Cast a Rare Light in the Overlooked Genre of Opera Comique." The Washington Post, November 5, 2000 by Philip Kennicott.

Exhibitions/Performances

SELECTED PERFORMANCES

Professional Conductor

Suducka Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (Opole and Walbrzych, Poland, 2017)
Fryderyk Chopin University of Music Baroque Ensemble (Warsaw, Poland, 2017)
Re-Musica Festival of Contemporary Music (Prishtina, Kosovo, 2015)
Trinity Baroque Orchestra and Chorus (New York, 2014)
Governor of Vladimir Symphony Orchestra (Vladmir, Russian Federation, 2013)
Chamber Orchestra of the Orpheus Musical Theatre (Perm, Russian Federation, 2013)
B-A-C-H Chamber Orchestra (Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation, 2013)
Trinity Wall Street Chorus & Baroque Orchestra, October 2014
North American Premiere, Capel Bond: Concerto No. 1 for Trumpet & Strings & North American Premiere & Charles Avison: Concerto in B Major, Op. 6, No. 5, October 2012
First complete cycle (live performance) of Zelenka's Capriccios for Orchestra, May 2012
U.S. Premiere, Johann Bernhard Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 2, March 2011
Premiere of New Critical Edition, Antonio Salieri: Picciolo Requiem [premiere of new critical edition by Jane Schatkin Hettrick], October 2010
Henry Purcell: King Arthur, Concert Hall at The Arts Center at Strathmore, May 2009��
Modern premiere of Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber's Stabat Mater, May 2008
Concert before the Annual National Meeting of the American Musicological Society: Handel's Alexander's Feast and Johann Sebastian Bach: Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn’ ihn BWV 1127, October 2005 [before the Annual National Meeting of the American Musicological Society]
Washington area premiere: George Frideric Handel: Gloria, Washington, D.C., May 2002
Modern premiere: Marie-Emanuelle Bayon-Louis: Fleur d’Épine, before the International Conference Attending to Early Modern Women, November 2000
Programs with Tony Powell/Music & Movement, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C., November 2000
Concert before the Annual National Meeting of the American Musicological Society: Cantata4, November 1996

As Conductor at �鶹��Ƶ

Russian Federation Tour, �鶹��Ƶ Chamber Singers [Moscow (2 programs), Perm, Yekaterinburg (2 programs), Kazan]; programs with Governers Orchestra Vladimir, Chamber Orchestra of the Orpheus Theatre (Perm); B-A-C-H Chamber Orchestra (Yekaterinburg), May 2013
�鶹��Ƶ Chamber Singers, World Premiere, Fernando Benadon: Three Israeli Poems, September 2012
Spain & Portugal Tour, �鶹��Ƶ Chamber Singers [Spain: Granada (2), Cordoba and Seville; Portugal: Faro and Lisbon (2)], May 2011��
U.S. Premiere, Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla: Missa Ero flos campi, �鶹��Ƶ Chamber Singers, April 2011
U.S. Premiere, Wilhem Friedemann Bach: Wohl dem, der den Herren fürchtet, Fk 76, �鶹��Ƶ Chamber Singers, November 2010
�鶹��Ƶ Chamber Singers International Tour of Hungary and Romania, May 2009
Invited Showcase Choir (�鶹��Ƶ Chamber Singers) for the Inaugural Washington, D.C. Choral Festival, Concert Hall, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, May 2007
�鶹��Ƶ Chamber Singers Eastern United States and Eastern Canada Tour, October 2004
Various World Premieres

Television & Radio Performances

Chorus Master, University Chorale, Christmas In Washington, National Television Broadcast: TNT, 2006-2008
Various performance broadcasts on National Public Radio's Performance Today, Sunday Baroque, Great Sacred Music, and Classical Discovies
Chorus Master, “A Tribute to Bill Cosby” for The Kennedy Center Honors Gala National Television Broadcast, PBS, 1999

Reviews of Recent Live Performance

“Late Great Bach: The Mass in B Minor.” The Washington Post, October 27, 2014; critical review by Cecelia Porter.
“Bach Sinfonia’s Baroque Christmas Gifts.” The Washington Post, December 16, 2013, C4; critical review by Joan Reinthaler.
“The Sound of a Tradition.” MoCo Vox (The Voice of Montgomery County), December 16, 2013, critical review by David Cannon.
“I’ll Be Baroque For Christmas: Bach Sinfonia at Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center.” DMV Classical, December 14,��2013; critical review by Andrew Lindemann Melone. http://dmvclassical.wordpress.com/2013/12/15/ill-be-baroque-for-christmas-bach-sinfonia/
“Get Bach Loretta.” MoCo Vox (The Voice of Montgomery County), October 7, 2013, critical review by David Cannon.
“The Trumpets Shall Sound: Bach Sinfonia at Montgomery College. Cultural Arts Center.” DMV Classical, October 7,��2013; critical review by Andrew Lindemann Melone. http://dmvclassical.wordpress.com/2013/10/06/the-trumpets-shall-sound-bach-sinfonia/
“Хор хорош — «Камерные певцы Университета Америки» из Вашингтона выступили с концертом в Музее истории Екатеринбурга - Концерты - КультурМультур: ревиев” [“Good Choir — �鶹��Ƶ Chamber Singers from Washington gave a concert at the Museum of Yekaterinburg - Concerts - KulturMultur: Review.”] May 31, 2013. www.kulturmultur.com/itwas/125/item148324/
“Bach Sinfonia rediscovers New World.” The Washington Post, May 8, 2013, teaser C1+C3; critical review by Cecelia Porter.
“Fiesta! Bach Sinfonia at Montgomery College’s Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, May 5,��2013” DMV Classical, May 7, 2013; critical review by Andrew Lindemann Melone. http://dmvclassical.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/fiesta-bach-sinfonia-at-montgomery-colleges-cultural-arts-center/
��“Leipzig Idol: The Bach Sinfonia at Montgomery College’s Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring.” DMV Classical, April 2, 2012; critical review by Andrew Lindemann Malone. http://dmvclassical.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/leipzig–idol–the–bach–sinfonia–at–montgomery–colleges–cultural–arts–center–in–silver–spring/
"Death becomes them: Mozart requiem and Bach Sinfonia." The Washington Post, October 25, 2010; critical review by Cecelia Porter. ��
Mo' Better Motets: The Bach Sinfonia and Sinfonia Voci. DMV Classical, March 8, 2010; critical review by Andrew Lindemann Malone. The Classical Beat: In Performance. Bach Sinfonia. The Washington Post, March 8, 2010; critical review by Joan Reinthaler.
Bach Sinfonia's 'King Arthur' at Strathmore Center. The Washington Post, May 11, 2009; critical review by Cecelia Porter. (third item on page)��
Bach Sinfonia Workaday Wonders Of the Baroque.The Washington Post, May 19, 2008; p. C01, critical review by Anne Midgette. ��
Music: The Bach Sinfonia. The Washington Post, March 24, 2008; p. C05, critical review by Joan Reinthaler.��
Music: From Bach Sinfonia and Chantry, A Dido Die For. The Washington Post, October 30, 2006; p. C05, critical review by Andrew Lindemann Malone.

�鶹��Ƶ Experts

Area of Expertise

Musicology; choral and orchestral conducting; seventeenth-and eighteenth-century (German and English) music sociology; rock history; jazz history; popular and choral music; early brass instruments; computer applications in the humanities and music

Additional Information

Abraham conducts the �鶹��Ƶ Chorus and the Chamber Singers and teaches courses in music history, theory, and appreciation. He is a frequent clinician, adjudicator, and festival jurist. A specialist in performance and practice of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century music, Abraham is the music and artistic director of the Bach Sinfonia, a period-instrument ensemble dedicated to baroque and classical music. The Washington Post and other media outlets have praised his artistry and performances as having “uncommon precision and exuberant vitality” and “keen insight and coherence.” As a conductor and musicologist, he has “blended those skills marvelously in a program that combined learning with enjoyment in ideal proportions.” Abraham has conducted performances at the Kennedy Center, Music Center at Strathmore, National Women's Museum of the Arts, National Cathedral and twice before national meetings of the American Musicological Society. Broadcast credits include choral preparation for the Kennedy Center Honors Gala on PBS; the chorus master for Christmas in Washingtonon TNT, and an appearance on the PBS series History Detectives.Abraham was nominated for a 2010 Washington Area Music Award (WAMMIE) as Best Conductor/Director, and Bach Sinfonia is a 2011 finalist for the American Prize for Performance in the professional choral ensemble area. He records for Dorian Records (International) and is past president of the Maryland/District of Columbia chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.

For the Media

To request an interview for a news story, call �鶹��Ƶ Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

�鶹��Ƶ

Faculty Profile: Daniel Abraham