CAROLE ANN MAXWELL, D.S.M.

One of America ’s preeminent conductors of collegiate, community and professional choral ensembles, Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell has been the artistic director of The Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut since its inception in 1984.  Dr. Maxwell has also served as Director of Choral and Liturgical Music for Fairfield University since 1980.  In these and all her affiliations, Dr. Maxwell continuously strives for choral excellence through the total commitment and magnificent voices of thousands of gifted singers who gladly audition and travel great distances for the opportunity to work with her.

  

Noted for immense energy, consummate professionalism and complete dedication to the choral arts, Dr. Maxwell's mission is to inspire and challenge each singer's musical potential. Combining her talent with a wonderful sense of humor has set Dr. Maxwell aside from other conductors, making her extremely unique, and placing her in great demand.  Dr. Maxwell's unique style and leadership have produced critically acclaimed results from podiums throughout the United States , Canada , Europe, and Asia . She has prepared and conducted choruses for the Prague Radio Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony, Wallingford Symphony and Philadelphia Lyric Opera Orchestra as well as the Connecticut Grand Opera and Yale operatic ensembles.  Dr. Maxwell is a favorite Chorus Master for the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra and the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra.  Performances with these orchestras have been heralded as “magnificent” and “stunning”.  Extending her commitment to bring exceptional choral music to singers and audience members throughout Fairfield County , Dr. Maxwell has been the Conductor of the Summer Festival Chorus at the Quick Center for the Arts since its inception 15 years ago.  For the past several years, Dr. Maxwell has been named one of the distinguished conductors at the celebrated “Messiah Sing-In” at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City .  She has also conducted the Connecticut Music Educators Association’s Regional and All-State Choruses.

 

Dr. Maxwell has been recognized for her artistic achievements with numerous awards.  She was Guest Conductor of the Gregg Smith Singers at the Adirondack Music Festival and Principal Conductor for both the National Pastoral Musicians Convention and the National Convention of the National Council of Churches Workshop on Christian and Jewish Relations.  Her choirs have also been privileged to perform with Distinguished Concerts International of New York.  Dr. Maxwell has shared the stage with jazz legend Dave Brubeck and the Dave Brubeck Quartet, opera legends Sherrill Milnes, Marilyn Horne, and Reneé Fleming, composers Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Sondheim, and Charles Strouse and Broadway/Hollywood star, Tony Roberts.

 

In 1992, Immaculata College presented Dr. Maxwell with the prestigious “Distinguished Music Alumna” award.  The National Music Honor Society, Pi Kappa Lambda, honored her with membership citing her excellence and outstanding contributions in the field of choral music.  The Connecticut Post named Dr. Maxwell a recipient of the “Woman of Substance” Award, celebrating outstanding women of the region, and Oxford Health Care honored her with its Humancare Award for her exceptional efforts in the community. In 2000, Dr. Maxwell was named “Woman of the Year” by Fairfield University Women’s Studies Program.

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