Dalton Baldwin
Dalton Baldwin, professor of accompanying and coaching at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, has worked with many of the great singers of our time: Gérard Souzay, Elly Ameling, Arleen Auger, Jessye Norman, Teresa Berganza, Frederica von Stade, Nicolai Gedda, and José van Dam. He has also played for instrumentalists such as Henryk Szeryng, Pierre Fournier, and the Via Nova Quartet. Mr. Baldwin was the permanent pianist for Gérard Souzay for more than three decades, during which time they toured extensively on five continents and made numerous prizewinning recordings.
In addition to his duties at Westminster and busy accompanying schedule, Mr. Baldwin gives master classes throughout the US, Europe, and Asia, directing much of his energy towards discovering and developing the talents of young musicians. He considers the term "accompaniment" misleading. It is, in his opinion, a subtle and fascinating art form that strives for a perfect synthesis of music, poetry, and the artists' personalities.
A native of Summit, New Jersey, Mr. Baldwin studied at The Juilliard School and at Oberlin Conservatory. He continued his studies in Europe with Nadia Boulanger and Madeleine Lipatti, and frequented the classes of Walter Gieseking and Alfred Cortot. Mr. Baldwin was awarded an honorary doctorate of music from Oberlin Conservatory and received the title Chevalier de L'ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government.