Atlanta Opera Chorus Master Walter Huff, an adjunct professor at Indiana University last year, has been named a full-time associate professor of choral conducting at the prestigious music school.

waltertooAs he did last year, he will continue on as the opera’s chorus master, marking his 25th year on the job.

As associate professor of choral conducting, Huff will lead seminars on literature and choral preparation skills, conduct classes for master’s and doctoral choral conducting majors, direct opera choruses for Indiana University Opera Theater’s six annual productions, and mentor select student assistant chorus masters in preparing ensembles for Indiana University opera productions.

Huff has prepared Atlanta Opera choruses in more than 80 productions, including the critically acclaimed Porgy and Bess that toured Europe in 2008. He has degrees in music from Oberlin and Peabody conservatories, has performed with singers throughout Europe and the United States, and served as coach with the Peabody Opera Theatre, the Washington Opera and Baltimore Opera Company. He was acknowledged for his world-class work and dedication at the Atlanta Opera Ball in 2012, and has been instrumental in building the Opera Chorus into one of the most highly regarded in the world. The opera will honor Huff’s 25 years during its March 2014 production of Faust.

Atlanta Opera opens its 2013-14 season on Oct. 5 with Puccini’s tragic Tosca.

About Kathy Janich

Kathy Janich is a longtime arts journalist who has been seeing, working in or writing about the performing arts for most of her life. She's a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, Americans for the Arts and the National Arts Marketing Project. Full disclosure: She’s also an artistic associate at Synchronicity Theatre.

View all posts by Kathy Janich