“D’Eugenio is an inspiring presence on the podium, a fantastic communicator, and a strong advocate for new choral music. All of our projects together have been incredibly gratifying, as he embodies the best of what choral music is and does.”
– Ellen Gilson Voth, winner of the 2022 American Prize in Choral Composition
Joseph D’Eugenio has been bringing music to life across Southern New England for more than three decades as a conductor, artistic director, executive director, educator, pianist, and organist. He frequently conducts productions of major choral-orchestral masterworks, most often with GMChorale, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra New England. Performances include the oratorios of Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Carissimi; the masses of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and Bruckner; the requiems of Mozart, Brahms, Fauré, Duruflé, and Cherubini; newly-commissioned works; and contemporary choral music.
D’Eugenio is Artistic Director, Conductor, and Executive Director of GMChorale Choral Arts Organization. During his tenure since 1998, The Greater Middletown Chorale (est. 1977) evolved into GMChorale, and one of New England’s finest choruses, celebrated and awarded for its creative choral presentations, innovative programming, and dynamic collaborations. As part of the organization in 2016, D’Eugenio founded Alchemy, a professional vocal chamber ensemble, and in 2021, established Harmonia string ensemble to initiate educational and performance collaborations with youth, high school, and university choirs. D’Eugenio conducted GMChorale and Alchemy in featured performances for ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) conferences; two gubernatorial inaugurations; and European concert tours in Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, Rome, Florence and Venice with a performance at historic St. Mark’s Basilica.
“The consummate choral conductor, D’Eugenio is educated, naturally musical, organized, energetic, warm, and patient. He can take virtually any group of singers–amateur or professional, or a combination–and work with them towards a very special performance.”
– Peter Niedmann, winner of the 2019 Fyfe Prize international competition
D’Eugenio is deeply invested in conducting masterworks that are rarely performed and has premiered many new choral works by prominent composers including Gwyneth Walker, Ellen Gilson Voth, Peter Niedmann, Martin Sedek, Colin Britt, Lee McQuillan, Richard Hereld, and Eugenie Rocherolle. He has led various choral workshops and festivals, and has instructed choirs at high schools, colleges, and universities across Connecticut, including as visiting instructor of music at Wesleyan University.
D’Eugenio takes a special interest in creating impactful experiences as both Artistic Director and Executive Director, often collaborating with ensembles and artists to produce projects and events that bring together an entire community. In 2013, D’Eugenio produced GMChorale’s commission of the oratorio, Letter from Italy, 1944, composed by Grammy-nominated composer, Sarah Meneely-Kyder, and Connecticut poet Laureate, Nancy Fitz-Hugh Meneely, for which he also created the book. He conducted the premiere and coordinated the production of a documentary and concert video of the oratorio’s performance by collaborating with Emmy-award winning documentary filmmaker, Karyl Evans. Both videos were broadcast on CPTV. The documentary video, Letter from Italy, 1944: A New American Oratorio, was narrated by Academy award winning actor, Meryl Streep, and earned Ms. Evans an Emmy award for Outstanding Director in 2016.
“The performance was the best chamber version of my Mass I have ever heard. It had energy and excitement, and the extremely talented maestro made it all happen conducting with appropriate spirit and musicality.”
– Henry Mollicone, acclaimed American composer, conductor, and pianist
As chorus master, D’Eugenio has prepared choruses for guest performances, including GMChorale in the New England premiere of composer Nobuo Uematsu’s Dear Friends: Music of Final Fantasy with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and Grammy-award winning conductor, Arnie Roth; and GMChorale in Georges Bizet’s opera, Les Pescheurs des perles, with Connecticut Concert Opera, conducted by Doris Kosloff.
As an accomplished collaborative pianist, D’Eugenio performs chamber music with vocal and instrumental concert artists and professional choral ensembles. He may be heard on In Delightful Company, a recording featuring choral music by American composer and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Music, Charles Fussell. He has been Director of Music at First Congregational Church in Cheshire since 2003, where he directs the church’s music program, and serves as organist and choirmaster.
In 2009, D’Eugenio was named Conductor of the Year by the Connecticut Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He earned the Bachelor of Music in piano performance from The Hartt School, University of Hartford, and the Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of Connecticut. D’Eugenio studied principally with pianists Dr. Paul Rutman, Louis de Moura Castro, and Dr. Watson Morrison, and conductors Dr. Peter Bagley, Richard Coffey, Peter Sacco, Dr. Jeffrey Renshaw, and Dennis Keene.
“Maestro D’Eugenio is able to balance high expectations with warmth and charisma, and, as a result, has brought the chorale to a high level of musicianship, given its stunning and consistent readiness to fulfill all that is asked for in the score.” – Sarah Meneely-Kyder, prize-winning American composer
Please use the contact page to request Joseph D’Eugenio’s resume, additional information, and publicity materials.