Bruce Borton

The Madrigal Choir of Binghamton, the select chamber choral ensemble  founded by Anne Boyer Cotten in 1978, has announced the selection of  Dr. Bruce Borton as the next artistic director. Chosen after a 20-month search process, Borton brings a great deal of experience to the podium. He’s Director of Choral activities at Binghamton University, where he’s taught since 1988. For 10 years prior to that, he was conducting assistant to the legendary Robert Shaw with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus.  (BAM Note – In 2008, Borton was honored with a Heart of the Arts Award by the Broome County Arts Council.) No stranger to the Madrigal Choir, Borton has sung with the group, led the singers as a guest conductor and has served on the board of directors. (BAM note: Borton won a BCAC Heart of the Arts Award in
Cotten didn’t set out to lead a choir for 33 years. She and some friends just gathered around her dining room table to sing music they liked. After a while, they were saying, “Hey, we’re pretty good; we should perform!” Under Cotten’s leadership, the choir has premiered a new work by Alice Parker, commissioned and premiered a new piece by British composer Barry Seaman and performed more than 200 concerts in the Greater Binghamton area and beyond, including Cotten’s signature concert, “Ceremony and Celebration for Twelfth Night.” With her retirement from Broome Community College’s Department of Fine and Media Arts, she is moving to Arizona to be closer to family.
Planning is underway for the 2011-2012 season, which should be announced by August. More information about the ensemble may be found at MadrigalChoir.com.