ECU Director

Elmhurst Choral Union’s Conductor and Artistic Director, Scott Uddenberg, is a well-known conductor, soloist, professional chorister, and educator in the Chicago area. He is the founder and director of the Elmhurst Choral Union Chamber Singers.

Uddenberg’s first interaction with ECU was as an invited soloist by then-conductor James MacDonald. In 2014, MacDonald invited him back to guest conduct the ensemble. Uddenberg was permanently appointed to the position of Conductor and Artistic Director by the ECU Board in the summer of 2016.

Under Uddenberg’s direction, the Elmhurst Choral Union Chamber Singers have performed for diverse audiences at events such as the Naperville Cup of Cheer, Tree Lighting in Wilder Park, Spring Road Winter Fest, Elmhurst Holly Trolley, Elmhurst Garden Faire, and the Villa Park Community Center. They have also had the honor of singing the national anthem at the Schaumburg Boomers and Kane County Cougars baseball games.

Uddenberg holds a bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education from DePauw University and a master’s degree in Vocal Performance from DePaul University. In addition to ECU’s annual performances, Uddenberg has prepared the chorus for performances with Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, and Salt Creek Chamber Orchestra. Recently, Dr. Michael Karasis invited him to conduct performances of The Pale Blue Dot, Symphony #10 and Violin Concerto No. 2; he has also conducted An American Civil War Memorial by Dr. Karasis.

As Director of Music and Worship at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Schaumburg, Uddenberg conducts the adult choir and the handbell choir. His groups have worked collaboratively with the Lutheran Choir of Chicago and Hoffman Estates High School, and have performed at Orchestra Hall in CSO’s Merry, Merry Chicago holiday concerts and under the direction of Simon Carrington.

Uddenberg has recently been appointed Choral Director of the West Suburban Symphony Chorus under the direction of Peter Lipari. He first worked with the ensemble preparing performances of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and Gustav Host’s The Planets and is currently preparing Vaughn Williams’s Toward the Unknown Region and Hanson’s Song of Democracy.

A longtime member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and Grant Park Chorus, Uddenberg has performed with some of the greatest conductors in history. With those ensembles, he has appeared in performances at Carnegie Hall and Berlin. He has contributed to motion picture soundtracks and appeared on Grammy award-winning recordings. He has worked with many of the world’s finest choral conductors, including Margaret Hillis, Thomas Peck, Donald Palumbo, Christopher Bell, David Randolph, Sir David Willcocks, Terry Edwards, and Duain Wolfe.

Uddenberg spends his summers directing festival choruses for American Music Abroad, bringing together singers from across the United States for concert tours in Europe. This summer’s trip will travel to Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, and Normandy. Past tours have visited Prague, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest, Switzerland, and France. A trip is planned for next year to Berlin, Leipzig, and Wittenburg.

Scott’s photo is courtesy of Imagineering Studios.