Reviews & Press

Maxwell Kaye Named Competition Winner

April 1, 2024

Maxwell Kaye, a composition major at Mannes School of Music, has been named the winner of Orpheus’s 30th Anniversary Composition Competition. Kaye will receive a $1,000 contract to write a new work to be premiered during Orpheus's 30th Anniversary Season. The competition is open to any student under the age of 30 who is enrolled in a US conservatory of school of music. Learn more.

Excellence & Wisdom: Orpheus Chamber Singers Offers a Living Museum of Choral Music

Amy Bishop, Arts & Culture Texas, December 4, 2023

Here’s something that won’t be a surprise to some people: Choral music is a pretty big deal in North Texas. And while numerous DFW choirs have sustained through the years, not all can boast of nearing their 30th anniversary. Dallas-based Orpheus Chamber Singers will have those bragging rights in less than a year. Read More.

OnStage NTX ~ Review of “Horizons”

Gregory Sullivan Isaacs, October 23, 2023

…The singers responded with the precision that always has hallmarked Orpheus’ work, with Burnett’s impressive and subtle overlay of nuance and emotional empathy. The wide-ranging program certainly put the choir through its paces. The incredible variety of languages…and historical periods presented a huge stylistic challenge. Burnett and his musically supple group of singers transversed this treacherous landscape with élan. Read more.

AAM Conference Review of Orpheus’s June 13, 2023 performance

Ned Tipton, Director of Music Ministries, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, New Canaan, CT

“Only one word is necessary to describe their concert – extraordinary. Their program was wonderfully creative, mixing well-known works with lesser-known gems. Particularly notable were Howells’ Take him, earth, for cherishing and Willan’s An Apostrophe to the Heavenly Hosts. The latter, which I did not know, is Willan at his most brilliant, unfettered by the need to “sell.” This work is accessible only to the most capable of choral ensembles: the Orpheus Chamber Singers would fit at the top of that category. As I listened, I couldn’t help wishing that I could hear them sing other choral monuments – the Rachmaninov All-night Vigil, the massive anthems of Tallis and Mundy, or the Schoenberg Friede auf Erden. Bravi! to J. D. Burnett and the Orpheus Chambers Singers. We are grateful for the gift you gave us. I, for one, won’t soon forget the evening.” Read More

J.D. Burnett hired as next Director of Choral Activities for UT Austin’s Butler School of Music

April 22, 2022

The Butler School is pleased to welcome J.D. Burnett, the new Director of Choral Activities beginning in Fall, 2022. Read more.

Orpheus announces new Artistic Director

March 29, 2021

The Orpheus Chamber Singers announce the appointment of J.D. Burnett to the position of Artistic Director. Dr. Burnett will assume the position after the retirement of Orpheus's founder, Donald Krehbiel.

"After an 18-month search, we are pleased to announce J.D. Burnett as our new Artistic Director," said Ruth Ann Ritchie, Executive Director. "Throughout the audition process, J.D. has proven himself to be not only a gifted musician and talented choral conductor, but a thoughtful programmer with a clear artistic vision for how to lead the organization forward. I am excited to begin working with him right away as we ensure Orpheus's continued growth and success.”

Burnett is currently Associate Professor of Music at the University of Georgia and is the founding Artistic Director of Kinnara, Atlanta's premier professional choral ensemble. “I’m thrilled to join the Orpheus Chamber Singers as their second Artistic Director," said Burnett. "Orpheus has set the standard for professional choral singing in Dallas for the last twenty-five years. I look forward to carrying on the excellent work of Don Krehbiel and the many artists whose work has shaped this admirable legacy.”

Pandemic guidelines allowing, Orpheus plans to return to live concert programming in Fall 2021.

"While we will miss Don Krehbiel and his 26 years of exquisite concerts, we are excited for the future," added Barbara Schultz Mickey, Orpheus Board President.

J.D. Burnett enjoys a varied career as a conductor, singer, and teacher. He is the founding Artistic Director of Kinnara, Atlanta’s premier professional chamber choir. Originally established in Princeton, NJ, Kinnara presents a wide variety of repertoire performed by some of this nation’s finest professional singers. Additionally, Burnett is Associate Professor of Music and Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music, where he conducts the University Chorus, Men’s Glee Club, Women’s Glee Club, and UGA Choral Project, teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting and choral literature, and serves as chair of the conducting area. He is also the Director of Music at Oconee Street United Methodist Church in Athens, GA.

Formerly, he served as Assistant Director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, conductor of the New Jersey Youth Chorus Young Men’s Ensemble, Associate Conductor of the Masterwork Chorus of New Jersey, and Acting Director of Choral Activities at Montclair State University. Earlier posts include Interim Director of Choral Activities at San Jose State University, Artistic Director of the New Jersey Chamber Singers, Music Director of the Houston Masterworks Chorus, and Founder of Men’s Consort Houston. He also served as Choral Editor at McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Burnett did undergraduate study at Stanford University and Oklahoma State University. He holds advanced degrees in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College and the University of North Texas.

As a professional choral singer, Burnett has performed and recorded with the Stillwater Chamber Singers, Cantare Houston, Fuma Sacra, Robert Shaw Festival Singers, Choir of Trinity Church Wall Street, Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and Conspirare.

The Orpheus Chamber Singers, a professional 24-voice mixed adult choir under the direction of Donald Krehbiel, was founded with the express purpose of providing exceptional performances of traditional and innovative chamber choral music from the past six centuries. Since its first concert in 1995, Orpheus has presented a multi-concert subscription series each year to great critical acclaim. Orpheus has issued five commercial recordings; the newest, “My Soul’s Repose,” was issued on the Centaur label in February 2017. Orpheus has also performed throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area at venues including the regional conference of American Choral Directors Association, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Kimbell Museum of Art, UT-Southwestern Medical Center, Children’s Medical Center-Dallas, and numerous public schools. Orpheus performs a wide range of repertoire including sacred, secular, classical, folk, and pop. Collaborations over the 26-year history have included Ars Lyrica Houston, Gramophone Award-winning Baroque scholar John Butt, Texas Camerata, jazz pianist Eric Barnes, Swedish saxophone player Anders Paulsson, hand drummer and international percussionist Jamal Mohamed, tanpura player Vatsal Dave, and many other outstanding instrumentalists.

Orpheus Chamber Singers announce first Executive Director

June 26, 2020

The Orpheus Chamber Singers announce the promotion of Ruth Ann Ritchie to the position of Executive Director. This new role has been created to ensure a smooth leadership transition with the upcoming retirement of Founding Artistic Director Don Krehbiel.

"Ruth Ann Ritchie has been an indispensable part of our team for the past three years and this position will allow her to continue to advance the organization’s goals by managing the daily business and interactions with our patrons, musicians, and venues," said Barbara Mickey, President of the Board of Directors.

"Ruth Ann has been a staple of Orpheus Chamber Singers and has become adored by the singers," said Cody Conway, singer liaison to the Board. "Her proactive approach to protect the best interests of our ensemble and our singers while keeping a constant pulse on the challenges and opportunities for music nonprofits in our area gives me great hope for the future of OCS."

"We are anxiously awaiting the time when we may once more see all of you in person and share with you the creation of beautiful music," added Barbara Mickey. "Thank you for your ongoing support as we navigate the possibilities."

Ruth Ann Ritchie joined the Orpheus Chamber Singers as Business Manager in 2017. A flutist by training, she holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Flute Performance from Indiana University and a Graduate Diploma in Flute Performance from the Sydney (Australia) Conservatorium. In 2007, she founded Astraios Chamber Music, a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to welcoming new audiences to classical music.

Ruth Ann holds certificates of nonprofit management, development, and marketing from the Center for Nonprofit Management. As an administrator, she has worked with the Hall Ensemble, Floot Fire, and the Lewisville Lake Symphony, and consults with organizations across the country on best business practices for performing artists. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Chorus America, Chamber Music America, the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, and the National Flute Association.

Artistic Director Donald Krehbiel will retire following 2020-2021 Season

Orpheus Chamber Singers Business Manager, Ruth Ann Ritchie

January 31, 2020 - The Founding Artistic Director of the Orpheus Chamber Singers, Donald Krehbiel, has announced that he will retire in June 2021. Mr. Krehbiel founded Orpheus in 1995 and has led the ensemble for 25 seasons.

"It has been my delight to work with the area’s top singers to present exciting chamber choral music for the past 25 years," Mr. Krehbiel said. "Following the 2020-2021 season, I will hand over the baton to a new artistic director and will be excited to see Orpheus continue to thrive and present meaningful programs to our Texas audiences under new leadership."

"The Board of Directors will now begin a search for a successor capable of maintaining the high standards of creative programming and choral virtuosity that the group’s listeners have come to expect," said Barbara Schultz Mickey, Board President. "We will all miss Mr. Krehbiel but know that he has developed a choral ensemble loved not only by the singers who make the music but also by their listening audience.  As Mr. Krehbiel retires at the end of our season in the Spring of 2021, we all anticipate the joy which his successor will have as this musical experience continues to be discovered by new listeners."

The Orpheus Chamber Singers, a professional 24-voice mixed adult choir, was founded by Donald Krehbiel with the express purpose to provide exceptional performances of traditional and innovative chamber choral music from the past six centuries. Since its first concert in 1995, Orpheus has presented a multi-concert subscription series each year to great critical acclaim. Orpheus has issued five commercial recordings; the newest, “My Soul’s Repose,” was issued on the Centaur label in February 2017. Orpheus has also performed throughout the Dallas-Ft. Worth area at venues including the regional conference of American Choral Directors Association, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Kimbell Museum of Art, UT-Southwestern Medical Center, Children’s Medical Center-Dallas, and numerous public schools. Collaborations over the 25-year history have included Ars Lyrica Houston, Gramophone Award-winning Baroque scholar John Butt, Texas Camerata, Tesserae Baroque, jazz pianist Eric Banks, Swedish saxophone player Anders Paulsson, hand drummer and international percussionist Jamal Mohamed, tanpura player Vatsal Dave, and many other outstanding instrumentalists. 

A new Artistic Director will be announced in early spring 2021.

Please direct any questions regarding the search process to

Business Manager Ruth Ann Ritchie
administrator@orpheuschambersingers.org
214-530-0018 x 700

Orpheus in the New World

Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News

Opening its 25th season, Orpheus once again proved a first-rate professional chamber choir, firmly focused and finely polished. Artistic director Donald Krehbiel conducted clearly and expressively, and the lush reverberation of the Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe was perfect for music conceived for great spaces. Read more

The Orpheus Chamber Singers gave a magnificent ode to the popular topic of love.

Richard Oliver, TheaterJones.com

March 1, 2019 - The concept of love has permeated the human experience with pointed poignancy since the beginning of time. The evidence of its enrapturing, infuriating, maddening effects was laid out in Orpheus’ “Lovesong,” as they blended together ancient and modern colors to highlight that this very idea. We all feel it, yearn for it, strive to share it with others. We all know what it’s like to be intoxicated with it, spurned by it—empowered then dejected by it—and yet we always go back for more. I couldn’t ask for a better group of artists to celebrate such a prevailing, perfect paradox through song. Read more

A Valentine To The Voice From Orpheus Chamber Singers

Quin Mathews, Art & Seek

February 14, 2019 - That sound is what has given Orpheus Chamber Singers its stellar reputation. Read more

Orpheus Chamber Singers delivers a strong and era-spanning Christmas concert with Wintersong.

Keith Mankin, TheaterJones.com

December 18, 2018 - The virtuosic choral group, under the direction of Donald Krehbiel, presented a sumptuous aural feast of familiar, novel and sparkling music rooted in the holidays and in the season itself, mixing festivity with introspection. The result was typically stirring and spirited, with moments of breathtaking accomplishment. Read more

Orpheus Chamber Singers’ Wintersong Concert Is a Feast

Eve Hill-Agnus, D Magazine

December 17, 2018 - The harmony achieved by the 24-person group is matched by expressive richness and the fine, controlled quality of sound that comes from accomplished singers who blend and also emerged for solos in a number of sections in an eclectic program sensitively arranged by founding artistic director Donald Krehbiel. Read more

Orpheus Chamber Singers blend eclectic music, nostalgic holiday warmth

Wayne Lee Gay, Texas Classical Review

December 15, 2018 - This 24-voice choir, well worthy of its stand-out reputation among the area’s numerous choral organizations, sings with the low-vibrato, homogenously blended technique favored by small choral groups. This— combined with a nicely plotted repertoire and sensitive approach from conductor Krehbiel—resulted in a uniquely effective concert that rose above the traditional formula of concerts of this sort, while maintaining the requisite element of holiday warmth. Read more

Orpheus Chamber Singers opened its 24th season with a stunning performance of Jonathan Dove's song cycle The Passing of the Year.

Richard Oliver, TheaterJones.com

November 10, 2018 - Through the delicate design of Saturday night’s program and the thoughtful approach toward its execution, this group proved that it is not only pretty, but also thoroughly effective and artistically self-aware. Read more

Freshly energized, the Orpheus Chamber Singers present bold sounds of silken beauty

Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News

October 28, 2018 - Krehbiel's fastidious conducting, clear yet expressive, shaped singing of silken beauty that could rise to rousing declamations. The level of tonal polish and blend and the precision of tuning compelled admiration. Pianist Eduardo Rojas was a skilled and aptly interactive collaborator. Read more

The Orpheus Chamber Singers deliver another strong evening of fairly recent choral music.

Wayne Lee Gay, TheaterJones.com

March 7, 2018 - Orpheus Chamber Singers and director Donald Krehbiel magnificently advocated late 20th- and early 21st-century choral music, including some hugely demanding works from that flourishing genre. Difficulty of music has never been an obstacle for this superbly-trained group of musicians, who take on close, sometimes dissonant harmonies with apparent ease. Read more

Choral fans have a season to celebrate, thanks to Orpheus and newcomer Verdigris

Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News

December 15, 2017 - …the choral singing was, as always, satin-finished, fine-tuned, perfectly balanced and blended, with clear diction and expressive phrasing. Read more

Orpheus Chamber Singers sublime in cathedral acoustics

Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News

December 21, 2014 - The sounds were glorious, a virtually tactile presence moving through spaces high and wide. And, once again, led by artistic director Donald Krehbiel, this professional chamber choir of two dozen voices delivered satin-finished tone and elegant expressivity. Read more

Lamentations: The Orpheus Chamber Singers perform music for Holy Week in Dallas

Bachtrack Reviewer

March 25, 2013 - To achieve such a focused setting through such unpretentious means should be the envy of artistic directors everywhere... Read more

Orpheus Chamber Singers radiant in music from British Isles

Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News

April 21, 2012 - Artistic director Donald Krehbiel led a performance of exquisite polish and sensitivity... Read more