Colorado Springs Choral Society Announces New Executive Director

The Board of Trustees of the Colorado Springs Choral Society ("the Chorale") announced today that Peter Tuff has been named the new executive director.

After serving for the past five months as the Choral Society's director of development, Tuff succeeds Jim Sena, who served in the position for over three years on a part-time basis. Sena stepped down recently to devote more time to his career in the university publishing field, and to his family. "Jim will continue to sing with the Chorale and consult for us," says Tuff. "The entire Chorale family is very happy about that," he added.

Tuff hails from Salinas, California, and he brings administrative and musical talents to the Choral Society. His undergraduate music studies were at Pacific Lutheran University, and he has held executive and management positions with The Rose Ensemble in St. Paul, and with the Monterey Symphony and Carmel Music Society in California. As a professional singer, Tuff has a long list of credits in the U.S. and abroad-performances with the Vienna State Opera, the Salzburg Festival, San Francisco Opera, the Minnesota Orchestra and others, and he is known locally for his solo performances with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Opera Theatre of the Rockies, Vocal Arts Symposium and with the Chorale. "The Chorale made a big impression on me when I first heard them in 2003, and it is a thrill all these years later to serve the organization as we enter this exciting era under Deborah Jenkins Teske's artistic leadership. We're celebrating our 60th year this season, but we're definitely focused on the future," says Tuff.

About The Choral Society

Founded in 1956, the Colorado Springs Choral Society is the oldest, continuously performing community organization for vocal artists in the State of Colorado. The Society includes the Colorado Springs Chorale and the Chamber Singers and strives to contribute to the cultural richness of the Pikes Peak Region while providing an artistically rewarding choral experience for talented vocalists.

Community outreach includes the Choral Scholars program which provides the opportunity for high school singers to participate in Chorale rehearsals and performances by recommendation of their teachers. Additionally, the Choral Society recognizes outstanding educators among middle and high school choirs with its annual Award for Excellence in Choral Education. Finally, the yearly X-VOX Festival features the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale, the Choral Society's Chamber Singers and other regional student choirs, and gives smaller choirs the opportunity to perform great works with a large ensemble and orchestra.