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The American baritone, Gerard Sundburg, is a graduate of Bethel College (St. Paul, Minnesota), and holds both Master of Fine Arts and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Minnesota where he studied voice with Roy Schuessler and Clifton Ware.
Gerard Sundberg’s compelling baritone voice is celebrated internationally for its beauty and clarity. For many seasons he captivated audiences with his performances of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah and J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Following another Messiah performance, a critic declared, “His recitatives and arias remained focused and filled with energy….he demonstrated excellent range, control and diction”, The Republic (Columbus, Indiana). “He sings with passion and conviction, giving thoughtful and heartfelt expression to the text”, Rodney Wynkoop (Duke University).
Gerard Sundburg has distinguished himself as a concert artist with his mastery of bass/baritone repertoire. Recent performances include the St. John Passion (BWV 245) conducted by John Nelson in Paris at the Notre Dame Cathedral. He has appeared as soloist with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, and with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Robert Shaw. He maintains an impressive presence in the Chicago area, frequently appearing as soloist with the West Suburban Choral Union, recently for a performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony. He also has sung extensively with the Oregon Bach Festival under the artistic leadership of Helmuth Rilling. Helmuth Rilling praises Sundberg for his “exceptionally stunning high range” and “perfect command of the German language and high musicality”.
Performances in past seasons have included: J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244) with Chicago Chorale; Johannes Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem with Bradley University and the Southwest Florida Symphony; L.v. Beethoven's Mass in C with Elmhurst Choral Union and Symphony No. 9 with the Illinois Symphony Fox Valley Symphony (Wisconsin), and Rockford Symphony; Bruckner's Mass in F Minor with the West Suburban Choral Union (Illinois) and the Wheaton Conservatory Choruses and Orchestra; Maurice Duruflé's Requiem in “Music for Remembrance Day”, Wellington, New Zealand; Finzi's Requiem da Camera with Milwaukee Bel Canto; G.F. Handel's Messiah with Bel Canto Singers of Milwaukee; Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass with Bel Canto of Milwaukee and the Southwest Florida Symphony; Hoiby's I Have a Dream (for Baritone and Orchestra); Gustav Mahler's Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen with Wheaton Conservatory Symphony Orchestra; Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah with Bradley University and the Rockford Symphony; F. Mendelssohn's St. Paul with College Church of Wheaton, Illinois; W.A. Mozart's Requiem with First Congregational Church, Crystal Lake, Illinois; Georg Philipp Telemann's Lobet dem Herrn with Southwest Florida Symphony; R. Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs with Kiev Symphony Orchestra (Ukraine); Haydn's Paukenmesse and R. Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem with Duke University at the International Haydn Festival in Vienna. Sundberg has sung for the Peoria Bach Festival since its founding in 2002. Recent performances on the Peoria Bach Festival include J.S. Bach's St. John Passion (BWV 245), St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244), Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248), and Easter Oratorio (BWV 249).
Gerard Sundburg is presently Professor of Voice at Wheaton Conservatory of Music (Wheaton, Illinois).
His two recordings are “Singer on a Journey”, including four sacred song cycles by Johannes Brahms, L.v. Beethoven, Ralph Vaughan Williamss and Carlisle Floyd, and “Songs for the Journey” including arrangements by Edwin Childs of 16 Hymns and Gospel songs. |
