Seattle Men's Chorus & Seattle Women's Chorus Welcomes New Artistic Director

Flying House Productions (FHP) the parent organization for Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle Women's Chorus, isthrilled to announce that Paul Caldwell will be named the new artistic director, effective August 1, 2016. The organization has flourished under the 35-year artistic leadership of Dennis Coleman, whose retirement was announced in February 2015. Immediately theFHP board of directors began an extensive nationwide search for Coleman's successor; work is currently underway with the Board of Directors, executive director Steven Smith, and Coleman for a smooth transition process. In the coming months Caldwell is expected to relocate from his Chicago-area home where he has worked as artistic director for the Youth Choral Theatre of Chicago, Windy City Gay Chorus, and Windy City Treble Quire.

Coleman emphasizes, "Paul's national reputation as a talented conductor and composer makes him a great choice. I'm proud to pass on the baton to him and look forward to seeing how he builds on our mission to entertain and inspire." Most recently, Caldwell helped revitalize Chicago's Windy City Gay Chorus and Treble Quire while also doubling its membership. He has worked with youth choruses for 20 years, is in-demand nationally for his diverse expertise as a conductor of classical, world, and popular music, and is one of the U.S.'s most-performed choral music composers. His music has been broadcast on PBS, heard at Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center, as well as concert halls worldwide. Caldwell also performs as a drummer having studied with West African and Cuban masters. He has been recognized nationally for adventurous programming and his philanthropic contributions to the Arts.

Caldwell's diverse experiences working with young singers and LGBTQ choruses provide a cutting-edge perspective on musical programming and community outreach. Together with FHP's executive director, Steven Smith, Caldwell will build on the FHP legacy for great entertainment and inspiration with a fresh commitment to use the power of music to create change and expand the definition of community. Caldwell has a dynamic personality and maintains a bold curiosity about today's music and issues that will work to expand audiences and engage more of the greater-Seattle community.

"I'm delighted to join Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle Women's Chorus; they are dynamic musical legacies in one of American's greatest cities." Caldwell continues, "While I have long admired the choruses and their tradition of artistry, I'm inspired by the way Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle Women's Chorus represent things that matter more than music like diversity, social justice, and creating safe spaces. I'm committed to contributing to a creative civic dialog in Seattle that will further these causes. We create moments that inspire people to change the world and I'm looking forward to a thrilling musical adventure."

Paul Caldwell has served as artistic director for Windy City Performing Arts in Chicago since 2013 where he provided renewed leadership and vision for both the Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire. Since 2001 he has also served as artistic director for the Youth Choral Theater of Chicago, a community-based after-school program enrolling 200 young people in Chicago's northern suburbs. Paul's work with youth garnered national recognition, receiving the Chorus America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming.

Paul made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2014, leading concerts comprised entirely of music he composed. He has also been artistic director for the ¡Canta! Costa Rica festival in San Jose. He returns to the Sing A Mile High choral festival in Denver biennially.

Paul composes and arranges music collaboratively with Sean Ivory. Their choral works have been telecast on PBS and A&E and performed at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. Legendary guitarist Steve Vai recently collaborated with Caldwell and Ivory to create a choral-rock fusion song, Book of the Seven Seals.

Paul is a member of the board of directors of Chorus America. In 2008, his efforts in the choral field were recognized when he received the Michael J. Korn Founders Award for Philanthropic Contribution to the Arts.