David Griggs-Janower,
Artistic Director and Conductor
David Griggs-Janower is artistic director and conductor of Albany Pro Musica and director of choral music and professor at the University at Albany, State University of New York, where he has taught since 1981. He was graduated from Cornell University where he studied music theory and music history. He holds the Doctor of Music degree in conducting from the Indiana University School of Music where he studied with Dr. Julius Herford, Fiora Contino and Margaret Hillis. He has also been on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and visiting artist/guest conductor at Williams College, Cornell University and Skidmore College. Dr. Griggs-Janower was a staff member of the Aspen Music Festival Choral Institute for ten seasons and the Oregon Bach Festival under Helmuth Rilling for seven summers.
Dr. Griggs-Janower was the music director of the Berkshire Bach Society in Great Barrington, the first conductor and a frequent guest conductor of the St. Cecilia Orchestra, and the choir director at First Presbyterian Church of Albany. He has been a guest conductor of the Albany Symphony, the Albany Mendelssohn Club, the Guilderland and Niskayuna High School District Choral Festivals, and the First Reformed Church of Schenectady. Dr. Griggs-Janower has appeared as conductor or clinician at eight ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) conventions, two NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) summer conferences and one NCCO (National Collegiate Choral Organization) Conference. He has conducted several Area All-State and All-County Choral Festivals and the NYACDA/NYSSMA Directors Chorus.
Troy Chromatics and the Capital Region Center for the Arts each bestowed their annual arts award on Dr. Griggs-Janower in 2009. He was named Outstanding Conductor of the Year by the NYS American Choral Directors Association in 2003. In 2002 he was the first recipient of the University at Albany faculty award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activity, and later was given the same award by the statewide University, having been so-distinguished from faculty at all 64 campuses. He received the Albany-Schenectady League of Arts Award for his outstanding contribution to the Capital Region community. With Albany Pro Musica and with his University Chamber Singers, Dr. Griggs-Janower has led concert tours to Europe, Canada and Central America and produced numerous CD recordings.
