Bryan Pinkall’s career continues to hit the right notes. The award-winning assistant professor of music at Kansas State University is following up on his success as artistic director of the Emmy-winning production of the 2014 Olympic Opening Ceremony by performing on the soon-to-be released recording of Rachmaninoff’s “All-Night Vigil” with two Grammy-winning ensembles.
“All-Night Vigil” features conductor Charles Bruffy, his two Grammy Award-winning professional choirs, the Kansas City Chorale — of which Pinkall is a member — and the Phoenix Chorale, and several soloists including Pinkall.
The album, on Chandos, will be released March 10, and is only the second classical music album ever selected for iTunes Radio First Play. It is available for pre-order at http://www.iTunes.com/AllNightVigil.
“Recording such a famous piece of music was a great challenge: a world-renowned conductor, award-winning singers, producers, and editors. It’s overwhelming to think about all the talent in the same room.” Pinkall said. “But it is an emotional experience to finally listen to it. Thank you to iTunes for believing that this album is deserving of recognition by the masses.”
The album’s March 10, release date coincides with the 100th anniversary of Rachmaninoff’s work by the Moscow Synodal Choir. To celebrate both the album and anniversary, the Kansas City Chorale and Phoenix Chorale have joined with Classical Minnesota Public Radio’s Choral Stream to host a worldwide listening part starting at 9 p.m. March 10, at www.rachparty.com. The listening party, or #RACHparty on Twitter, features the live radio broadcast premiere of the complete album and live video interviews/hangouts with Pinkall, Bruffy and others.
A native of Great Bend, Pinkall teaches studio voice and Italian diction at Kansas State University. He performs across the United States as a soloist in many early music and baroque ensembles and has performed leading roles in operas and has been regularly featured as a soloist with the Kansas City Symphony. He helped to produce the 2014 Olympic Opening Ceremony in Sochi and is helping to produce the scholarship benefit concert K-State Rhapsody, at the Kauffman Center (www.kauffmancenter.org) in Kansas City on May 10.
“Being an active performer is very difficult, especially when I must travel every weekend, but performing makes me a better teacher.” Pinkall said. “I am so thankful to teach at K-State where the students and faculty in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance are like a family, supporting one another.”