WORDS OF PRAISE
“Having sung in large ensembles in my life, notably the Chicago Symphony Chorus, I understand the multi-faceted requirements of a conductor. David Edelfelt has all of the needed skills to produce outstanding performances while creating enjoyable and appropriately challenging opportunities for musicians.”
— Rebecca L. Nelson, Ph. D
“Guest conductor David H. Edelfelt molded the 100-voice choir into a supple ensemble, which over the course of the program, showed itself capable of exceptional expressiveness and sonic beauty.”
— The Pioneer Press
“A leadership style that’s very stimulating and engaging… a choral and musical talent of great dimension and a great contributor to the choral musical scene in Chicagoland. [David’s] efforts, skills, and emphasis lifted our chorus to a new and more desirable level.”
— David W. Hunt, North Shore Choral Society
“David is multiply gifted! He is an outstanding musician and a wonderful conductor. With his vast knowledge of vocal technique, he has unified the sound of each section of our choir. David Edelfelt is the most talented conductor I have ever sung under (with the possible exception of Helmuth Rilling). David is a shining star in the choral world!”
— Carol S. Huntsinger, Ph.D.
“With David you get a three-for-one deal; an excellent choral and orchestral conductor, a spiritual mentor and a smooth comedian. All three are devoted to making beautiful, inspiring music happen each and every time we sing.”
— Amy T. Dickinson
“What really makes David so unique and so effective is his infectious enthusiasm and ability to elicit the very best from a choir. His sense of humor is unique and contagious. He is fun and passionate about his work, but also has the ability to instill that excitement in the groups he works with.”
— Barb Brantigan
“I have sung for over 35 years under many directors in amateur and professional groups of varying sizes and skill and have found David to be one of the finest choral leaders I have had the pleasure to experience. His style is one of instruction, demonstration, explanation, good humor and reinforcement. He is a true musical leader bringing together choir, orchestra and soloists. His presence and style commanded respect due that of an accomplished conductor.”
— G. Kirk Ergang
“David displays the kind of excellent understanding of vocal and choral performance style that many of my college music professors might have envied. Over the past thirty years, I have had the privilege of singing under the leadership of many directors with varying degrees of musical aptitude and skill. David’s attention to detail puts him in the class with the most high-achieving groups.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature of singing with David is his capacity to combine high standards with profound joy for the choir members. He believes in what his choir does, relies on what they do well, and stretches them to discover what they only dreamed the could do well. David is truly gifted.”
— Andrew Byshenk
“I have been fortunate to sing with many fine choir directors, including some well-known names, and without hesitation, I can say that David’s skill as a choral musician exceeds them all. David’s musicianship is only surpassed by his professionalism and kindness. He is demanding, but his approach and talent in giving constructive feedback makes us want to sing that much better — and we do. I can’t say enough about him.”
— Rosemary Monahan
“David is an excellent vocal teacher, and in the choral setting, he brings out the best in each voice. His rehearsals are a blend of hard work with efficient use of time, and pleasant leadership. He is quite at home leading both orchestra and vocal soloists. The depth and breadth of his musical knowledge is exceptional and he has the ability to pass that on to choristers without seeming professorial. I consider David to be the best choral director that I have worked with in the considerable time that I have been singing.”
— Paul Quillman
“David's salient ability as a choral director is his aptness in applying his skills as a successful vocal coach to the job of directing a choir. I see this especially in his ability to create beautiful choral tone and in his work to improve combined pitch. He offers many practical techniques that improve vocal production individually and collectively, and does these things with the best of humor, patience and sincerity. He is always good-natured, encouraging and engaging.”
— Paula Palmer
“David’s overall talent as a director is extremely rare. After our recent performance of Mozart’s Requiem, the choir director from my wife’s church wanted to know from where we had hired David. I was proud to tell him that David was our regular choir director.”
— Michael C. Savidis
“The grace that David extends to the choir is rare among professional musicians working with volunteer organizations. He realistically perceives the breadth of musical skill possessed by members of the choir, and is willing to rehearse in such a way that challenges the experienced, and stretches the skills of those with less proficiency, while still leaving room for us all to be less than perfect.
The excellence David demands from the choir rivals that of any choir director under whom I have studied (including various church choirs, and choral ensembles during my time as a voice and music education major at Northwestern University.) He has consistently called for the highest standards of vocal technique, ensemble singing, technical precision and musical artistry.
In David, we’ve had illuminated for us paths to many places of wonder.”