Associate Conductor Stephen Alltop
Stephen Alltop, Associate Conductor, has built a career based on excellence in several disciplines, conducting both orchestral and choral ensembles, and performing as a keyboard artist. He has been a member of the PMF musical family since 1994.
In the past year, he made his solo debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Center in Bach’s Concerto in a minor with violinist Pinchas Zukerman and flautist Mathieu Dufour, and conducted concerts with Orchestra Sinfonica della Provincia di Bari in Italy.
The 2008-09 season marked Stephen Alltop’s twelfth year as Music Director of the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, a year featuring Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Eleanor Daley’s Requiem, Handel’s complete Messiah, and Orff’s Carmina Burana. In 2006, a new CD recording of Handel's complete Messiah with the Apollo Chorus and Orchestra of Chicago was released on the Clarion label. In August of 2009, the Chorus will makes its seventh appearance at the Ravinia Festival in Verdi’s opera Rigoletto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Alltop is the ninth music director in the 137-year history of the chorus.
In the past season, Stephen Alltop led the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra in a season that saw the orchestra expand its concert programs to new venues and cities. Highlight’s included Brahms Nänie, Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4, Mendelssohn’s complete music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, an opera night with Carol Vaness, and a concert of music by Michael Daugherty. The ESO made its first-ever appearance at Chicago’s Harris Theater for Music and Dance.
Dr. Alltop has served on the conducting faculty of Northwestern University since 1992. The 2008-09 academic year included Haydn’s Harmoniemesse, Telemann’s Day of Judgment, and the Chicago premiere of Duni’s opera Nerone.
Stephen Alltop has guest conducted numerous orchestras and choral ensembles across the United States and in Italy, including I Soloisti di Perugia, the Arturo Toscani Foundation Orchestra, and the Teatro Regio Orchestra of Parma at the Mozart Festival of Rovereto. In July of 2008, Stephen Alltop conducted the first modern performance of Egidio Duni’s opera Nerone at the Festival Duni in Matera, Italy. Mr. Alltop's fifth year as Music Director of the Green Lake Choral Summer Institute (Green Lake, Wisconsin) included choral and instrumental works of Gabrieli, Bach, and Mathias with the Millar Brass Ensemble and the Apollo Chorus of Chicago as musical guests. In 2007, Stephen Alltop made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in a program of choral music by Eric Whitacre.
As a keyboardist, Mr. Alltop has appeared with the Chicago Chamber Musicians, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Joffrey Ballet, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Omaha Symphony, Ravinia Festival, Milwaukee Symphony, and Minnesota Orchestra.
Mr. Alltop’s discography includes “The Divas of Mozart’s Day” on the Cedille label with soprano Patrice Michaels and the Classical Arts Orchestra, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 on American Gramaphone, “Baroque Arias” on the Albany label with soprano Julianne Baird and trumpeter Darin Kelly, and a disc of music by Antonio Caldara on the Albany label with Julianne Baird.
A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Stephen Alltop holds Master of Music degrees in Choral Conducting and Organ from the Eastman School of Music. He also received a Bachelor of Music degree and Performer's Certificate from Eastman, where he graduated with Highest Distinction. He holds the Doctor of Music Degree in Orchestral Conducting from Northwestern University. Stephen Alltop is represented by Joanne Rile Artist Management.