He has sung in the greatest opera houses of the world. He has made a career of perfecting the bel canto tenor repertory for the past twenty-five years. He has built an adult chamber choir of 40 voices in between performances all over the world. And he lives in Rochester, New York. His name is Gregory Kunde.

Most recently, it has been written of him: "Optimum was the tenor Gregory Kunde: a most beautiful timbre, a secure technique, and phrasing varied and fluent." And "There are tenors that I hold in great and high esteem, Placido Domingo is foremost for me. Giuseppe Di Stefano and Sergei Larin are examples of other tenors who I find just amazing but NEVER have I encountered a voice as stunning in a role as Kunde's. The most immediately likeable tenor voice I have ever heard."

But this career did not begin on the stage. Gregory Kunde attended Illinois State University to become a choral conductor. At the close of his fourth year of college, he decided at the last moment to audition for Lyric Opera of Chicago's Young Artists Program. Kunde did not expect to land a post as an apprentice, but his rendition of Donizetti's "Una furtiva lagrima" made such an impression on listeners that he was immediately accepted into the young artists' program and soon found himself at rehearsals and on the stage with some of opera's greatest legends, including Pavarotti, Milnes, Freni, and his soon-to-be mentor, tenor Alfredo Kraus.

The tenor's opera career is well-documented and continues to be an exciting journey. Kunde's debut at Paris' Theatre du Chatelet and debut in the role of Aeneas in Berlioz's Les Troyens has been captured on DVD and will appear in stores in the US in January 2005. And Kunde's latest recording - a landmark version of Berlioz' masterpiece Benvenuto Cellini -- features him in the title role with a Janaury 2005 worldwide release date scheduled. The tenor's performance schedule shows no sign of slowing down. He is already booked well into 2007, with productions slated for Sydney, Paris, San Francisco, Monte Carlo, Las Palmas, Santa Fe, Zurich, and others.

What ever happened to his first love, choral conducting? Kunde is working on that, too. In five short years, his Chorale has become known as the finest adult choral sound throughout the Rochester and surrounding areas. Choral conducting is a passion with this musician and though his work continues to take him out of Rochester and around the globe, he has persevered to make this dream a reality. Ask any of the Chorale, and they will tell you of his intensity on the podium, his attention to detail, his interest in all genres of choral music, and his ability to inspire his singers. Ask the tenor-turned-conductor and he'll tell you that he's "honored and privileged to stand in front of this group of singers."

Kunde's link to the real world of professional music performance brings an added dimension of credibility and experience to his conducting. The Chorale enjoys the benefit of Kunde's successful career, learning first-rate choral repertory, technique, and performance practice with each rehearsal. With each engagement, this conductor brings home to his Chorale some detail, some concept, some refinement that his professional experience allows him to relate. It is this exposure to the real world of professional music that sets this chamber group apart from the rest.

For more information on Gregory Kunde, please visit www.gregorykunde.com.