For a decade, Susanne Sheston acted as chorus master for both the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera.
Utah Symphony/Utah Opera announced Sheston's departure to pursue other music opportunities in a press release last week. Barlow Bradford and Caleb Harris will replace Sheston as the new chorus masters for the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera, respectively.
Melia Tourangeau, president and CEO of Utah Symphony/Utah Opera, said in a press release that Sheston's professionalism was seen in the quality of the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera choirs' performances.
"She is so ‘irreplaceable’ we had to hire two people to attempt to fill her shoes," Tourangeau said in the press release.
Bradford — a distinguished conductor, pianist and teacher — is not new to Utah.
"Barlow Bradford has already greatly influenced the choral community in Salt Lake City and we are thrilled he will be preparing the Utah Symphony Chorus to collaborate with our world-class Utah Symphony musicians,” Tourangeau said in the press release.
For years, Bradford led University of Utah and Utah Chamber Artists choirs. While he was leading the Utah Chamber Artists choir, the group toured Israel, joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for a broadcast and was featured on NPR's "The First Art." Bradford also was appointed as a music director for the Orchestra at Temple Square and associate director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Harris, as the new Utah Opera chorus master, comes to Utah after serving as an associate professor of music (piano/collaborative piano and director of the collaborative program) at the University of Northern Colorado.
"Caleb Harris has an impressive background of operatic and collaborative musical experiences. We feel fortunate to bring him into the team of talented artists preparing our Utah Opera performances so quickly after he moved to our community," said Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth in the press release.
Harris will make his Utah Opera chorus debut in January with the opening of "La Traviata" at Capitol Theatre.
Katie Harmer is a journalism graduate of Brigham Young University and writes for Mormon Times. Email: kharmer@deseretnews.com Twitter: harmerk