Biography . . .

Richard Garrin, a native of Chicago, is now making music on the east coast. Mr. Garrin has many musical credits to his name. His 18 years with the Chicago Symphony Chorus (CSC) began as a professional tenor, and subsequently he was appointed Associate Director by the late Margaret Hillis, Founder and Director of the CSC. Ms. Hillis, aware of Mr. Garrin's choral conducting expertise, appointed him to this auspicious post and entrusted him with the CSC in her absence when pursuing her own national conducting career. Maestro Garrin conducted the CSC in performances at Chicago's Symphony Center, including broadcasts over radio WFMT. In this capacity, he prepared the CSC for such conductors as James Levine, the late Sir Georg Solti, also Zubin Mehta, Erich Kunzel, Daniel Barenboim, James Conlon, Phillip Brunelle, Vittorio Negri, Margaret Hillis and Michael Tilson Thomas. Mr. Garrin prepared the Chicago Symphony Chorus for the Grammy nominated recording of the Ives Symphony No. 4 along with other a cappella choral music on the disc.

Mr. Garrin was the founding conductor of the Springfield Symphony Chorus (IL), and was Music Director for the Park Forest Singers (IL) for seven seasons. Mr. Garrin has also conducted the Seattle Symphony Chorus (WA) in concert, and prepared them for performances with the Seattle Symphony. While in Seattle, he worked with the Seattle Men's Chorus coaching them for their premiere of the opera Night Passage, by Robert Moran and conducted their ensemble, Philandros. In 1995, Mr. Garrin returned to Chicago and founded Richard Garrin's Voices Chicago, a professional choral ensemble, skilled in performing a wide range of choral literature. He also conducted the Summit Chorale of New Jersey in three successful seasons to audience and critical acclaim.

Garrin founded and directed the Windy City Men's Chorus for its first 15 year history. The group was praised by media experts and professionals alike. The chorus appeared at many venues all over the United States, including Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Avery Fisher Hall in New York, Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, and Boettcher Hall in Denver, premiering many works by American composers and appearing at various state and regional conventions of the American Choral Directors Association.

From 1998 to 2003, Garrin was Music Director/Conductor of the Masterworks Chorale and Orchestra of San Mateo where he prepared and conducted many choral/orchestral works, both 20th Century and traditional. In his role as Associate Professor of music at the College of San Mateo, he founded and directed the CSM Singers the first campus choral ensemble after a 20 year absence.

Mr. Garrin and his ensembles have been honored by invitations to several conventions of the American Choral Directors. He has given many workshops and clinics for choirs and Board of Directors around the country. He served as guest conductor and clinician for such groups as: Schola Cantorum (CA), Heritage Music Festivals, Golden State Chorale Festival, Archdiocese of Chicago Music Directors, Unitarian Musicians Conference (WI), Glen Ellyn/Wheaton Choral Music Festival, Glenbard Schools Festival, Techny (IL) Festival to name a few. Mr. Garrin was honored to be guest conductor for the Illinois All State Choirs.

Most recently, Mr. Garrin conducted the Summit Chorale in NJ for three successful seasons. He served on the faculty of Caldwell College (NJ), Raritan Valley Community College (NJ) and the College of San Mateo (CA). He has professional singing credits to his name having performed with the Chicago Lyric Opera, toured with the Norman Luboff Choir, and was a professional member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus for many seasons and even sang with Fred Waring in Delaware Water Gap, PA. He has sung professionally in numerous solo appearances in Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco. He also teaches voice to adult and college students at his home studio in New Jersey and gives workshops in choral music.

Mr. Garrin holds a Masters degree in conducting and voice from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music Education from DePaul University in Chicago.