DR. DONALD MEINEKe, artistic director

Donald Meineke is a conductor, organist, tenor, and maintains an active career as a recitalist, lecturer, conductor, and singer. Originally from Houston, TX, he studied at Indiana University and The University of Texas at Austin and has held prominent positions in Chicago, Massachusetts, and New York City. As the new Artistic Director of Choral Arts Philadelphia, he will bring his passion for choral music which transforms and inspires through musical storytelling and connection to the human condition.

An ambitious builder of programs, Dr. Meineke was the Co-founder and Artistic Director of Ensemble VIII, Austin’s premier vocal ensemble for Renaissance and Baroque music. He currently serves as Organist & Choirmaster of Saint Mark's Church, Locust St. where he oversees a robust musical program featuring the renowned Parish Choir of Saint Marks and the Boys' and Girl's Choir. Previously, he served as Director of Music and Organist for the historic Church of the Holy Trinity (Episcopal) on Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, known fondly as the birthplace of the Christmas carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”
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He served as Cantor of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in New York City where he led the twice Grammy®-nominated Bach Choir and Players in the internationally renowned Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity series. Hailed as a “fresh voice on New York’s musical scene” (The New Yorker), his Bach Choir’s recording of Samuel Capricornus’ Jubilus Bernhardi, in collaboration with string ensemble ACRONYM, received critical acclaim and was on Colorado Public Radio’s December 2017 “Top 5 Must Have New Recordings” list. His recordings of Capricornus and Bach Vespers have been featured on classical music stations nationally and internationally, including KMFA’s Ancient Voices and WXXI’s With Heart and Voice, and he has appeared as a guest artist on Columbia University-WKCR’s Bachfest.

Dr. Meineke was the Co-Founder and Director of the 2014 Early Music Festival: NYC which featured over thirty concerts by dozens of local and national ensembles to critical acclaim. He served as a choirmaster for the internationally revered conductor and Bach expert, Helmuth Rilling, preparing choirs across Europe and South America for performances of the major choral and orchestral works by Bach, Mozart, and others.

​“fresh voice on New York’s musical scene”
​                                             - The New Yorker