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The American choral conductor, Alan Harler, studied at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music - CCM.
Alan Harler became Mendelssohn Club Chorus of Philadelphia’s 12th Music Director in 1988 and was named Artistic Director in 2009. Maestro Harler served for many years as Laura H. Carnell Professor and Chairman of Choral Music at Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music. He is an active conductor outside of Philadelphia, having performed regularly at the Festival Casals in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Aspen Choral Institute, and has given master-classes and conducted performances in Taiwan and China under the sponsorship of the Taiwan Philharmonic Association.
Alan Harler is a strong advocate for new American music. He was founder and director of the Contemporary Vocal Ensemble of Indiana. During his tenure with Mendelssohn Club Chorus of Philadelphia, he has commissioned and premiered 48 new compositions including such major works as David Lang’s battle hymns (2009), Jennifer Higdon’s On the Death of the Righteous (2008), Andrea Clearfield’s The Golem Psalms (2006), Charles Fussell’s High Bridge (2003), James Primosch’s Fire-Memory/River-Memory (1998), Roberto Sierra’s Lux æterna (1996), Jan Krzywicki’s Lute Music (1995), Robert Stern’s Returning the Song (1994), Cynthia Folio’s Touch the Angel’s Hand (1994), Charles Fussell’s Specimen Days (1992) and Robert Moran’s Requiem: Chant du Cygne (1990).
Alan Harler conducted Mendelssohn Club Chorus of Philadelphia in a critically acclaimed recording of the Moran Requiem for Argo/London Records in 1994. With the Temple University Concert Choir, he has presented many Philadelphia premieres, including Moran’s Hagoromo, Alfred Schnittke’s Requiem, and Arvo Pärt’s Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Secundum Joannem. He has prepared choruses for many of the country’s leading conductors, including Riccardo Muti, Klaus Tennstedt, Charles Dutoit, Zubin Mehta, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Lorin Maazel, David Robertson, and Wolfgang Sawallisch.
Alan Harler has led many master-classes in conducting, and currently serves as a Conducting Mentor with the Conductors Guild, making himself available for consultation with young conductors internationally. In 2009, he was honored with Chorus America’s prestigious Michael Korn Founders Award for Development of the Professional Art, and the Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia’s Honorary Lifetime Membership for a Distinguished Contribution to the Musical Life of Philadelphia. He currently lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. |
