Ryan James Brandau has been appointed the new artistic director of Princeton Pro Musica, effective for the 2012-’13 season. He replaces founding artistic director Frances Fowler Slade, who is retiring.
Brandau, who is moving from California, was previously the artistic director of the Santa Clara Chorale, director of choral activities at Santa Clara University, and interim artistic director of Musae. Earlier in his career he worked with choirs at colleges and churches in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
He has performed internationally as a singer with groups including the American Bach Soloists, the Arcadia Players, the Yale Schola Cantorum, and the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, and he still works as a choral arranger, composer, and clinician.
Brandau’s arrival in Princeton marks a homecoming of sorts. He studied music as an undergraduate at Princeton University, Class of 2003, and then received graduate degrees from the University of Cambridge and the Yale School of Music.
“Both our board and our chorus believe Dr. Brandau possesses just the right mix of superior musicianship, organizational and community relations skills, experience programming from a diverse yet compelling repertoire, and a personal/professional philosophy compatible with Princeton Pro Musica’s mission,” Jacques Lebel, president of Princeton Pro Musica’s board of trustees, said in a press release. “He is an outstanding choice to become our new artistic director.”
Said outgoing artistic director Slade: “Our search committee has done very impressive work, and I am extremely pleased with the appointment of Ryan Brandau. I am glad to see Princeton Pro Musica move into its next life stage with a terrific new artistic director.”
