About Alan Heatherington

Alan Heatherington, Music Director

Alan Heatherington has been described by John von Rhein (Chicago Tribune) as "one of the area's finest conductors" and "a first-rate conductor [who] promises something new or unusual at almost every concert, and he does so with musicality and taste, not gimmicks." Wynne Delacoma of the Chicago Sun-Times says "Heatherington is a gifted conductor who built a reputation for presenting outstanding concerts, often with unusual repertory and always with some of the city's best musicians."

Heatherington's musical training began at age five, first in piano and later in violin, voice, and conducting. After studying at the Eastman School of Music and at Houghton College in New York, he completed the Master of Music degree at Northwestern University under Samuel Magad, winning the honors competition in violin while working with Margaret Hillis and Bernard Rubenstein in conducting.

Heatherington's professional career has encompassed extensive solo and ensemble experience as a violinist, including a critically acclaimed debut in Carnegie Hall with the Delft Trio in 1981. He was the founding Music Director of the Chicago String Ensemble, a position he held for 18 years. He has been guest conductor with numerous orchestras, operas, ballets, and choral groups nationwide. As an educator he has taught and performed extensively at colleges and universities and was director of orchestral conducting and string instruction at the State University of New York at Buffalo from 1981 to 1986. He joined the faculty of North Park College in 1988 as associate professor of music and conductor of the college orchestra, a position he held until 1993. From 1995-2003 Heatherington was Director of Music Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest.

Heatherington is also the Music Director of Ars Viva and has been Music Director of Chicago Master Singers (formerly the New Oratorio Singers) since 1989. He is the Artistic Director and co-conductor with Eph Ely of the Innsbruck International Choral Festival, and he has conducted choral concerts in England, France, Scotland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.


Alan Heatherington, Music Director Alan Heatherington has been described by John von Rhein (Chicago Tribune) as "one of the area's finest conductors" and "a first-rate conductor [who] promises something new or unusual at almost every concert, and he does so with musicality and taste, not gimmicks." Wynne Delacoma of the Chicago Sun-Times says "Heatherington is a gifted conductor who built a reputation for presenting outstanding concerts, often with unusual repertory and always with some of the city's best musicians." Heatherington's musical training began at age five, first in piano and later in violin, voice, and conducting. After studying at the Eastman School of Music and at Houghton College in New York, he completed the Master of Music degree at Northwestern University under Samuel Magad, winning the honors competition in violin while working with Margaret Hillis and Bernard Rubenstein in conducting. Heatherington's professional career has encompassed extensive solo and ensemble experience as a violinist, including a critically acclaimed debut in Carnegie Hall with the Delft Trio in 1981. He was the founding Music Director of the Chicago String Ensemble, a position he held for 18 years. He has been guest conductor with numerous orchestras, operas, ballets, and choral groups nationwide. As an educator he has taught and performed extensively at colleges and universities and was director of orchestral conducting and string instruction at the State University of New York at Buffalo from 1981 to 1986. He joined the faculty of North Park College in 1988 as associate professor of music and conductor of the college orchestra, a position he held until 1993. From 1995-2003 Heatherington was Director of Music Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest. Heatherington is also the Music Director of Ars Viva and has been Music Director of Chicago Master Singers (formerly the New Oratorio Singers) since 1989. He is the Artistic Director and co-conductor with Eph Ely of the Innsbruck International Choral Festival, and he has conducted choral concerts in England, France, Scotland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.	People Music Director Board of Directors Administrative Staff Pre-concert Lecturer

Alan Heatherington, Music Director

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