Albert Pinsonneault

Conductor Albert Pinsonneault (PEN-son-oh) is Director of Choral Activities at the University of St. Thomas, where he conducts the Chamber Singers and Concert Choir and teaches in the graduate program in choral music education. Dr. Pinsonneault is also Founder and Artistic Director of the Madison Choral Project, Wisconsin’s only fully-professional chamber choir. Most recently he was Associate Director of Choral Organizations at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music where he conducted the University Singers, co-conducted University Chorale, taught the graduate choral literature sequence, and mentored graduate students in choral music.

A graduate of St. Olaf College (BM), the University of Minnesota (MM) and the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati (DMA), Dr. Pinsonneault’s scholarship focuses on choral blend and intonation, the physical/kinesthetic act of conducting, and the music of F. Melius Christiansen. His published work Choral Intonation Exercises is available through Graphite Publishing.


Compositions by Albert Pinsonneault

Intonation (2nd edition)

Albert Pinsonneault tb choir, mixed choir, treble choir, Difficulty : 2, a cappella, less than 3 min.

1: (Easy) No divisi in voice parts, accompaniment doubles or supports vocal parts, diatonic, symmetrical phrases, textures mostly homophonic, simple rhythms, stepwise voice leading (conjunct), moderate ranges, no extended techniques, and limited sustained singing.

2: (Medium Easy) Limited divisi, voices somewhat independent from accompaniment, some chromatics, phrases may be longer or more fragmented, mostly homophonic, moderate rhythmic complexity, some difficult intervals (disjunct motion), moderate ranges, extended techniques are simple, limited sustained singing.

3. (Medium) Limited divisi, unaccompanied, or with independent accompaniment (voice parts not doubled), many chromatics, phrases of varying lengths, more contrapuntal textures, moderately complex rhythms, some difficult intervals (disjunct motion), moderately difficult/challenging ranges, extended techniques are potentially challenging, and some sustained singing.

4. (Medium Difficult) Abundant divisi, unaccompanied, or accompanying instruments are fully independent from voice parts, many chromatics and/or key changes, long and/or broken phrases, potentially little homophony, complex rhythms, many difficult intervals (disjunct motion), difficult/challenging ranges, potentially difficult extended techniques, and a demand for sustained singing.

5. (Difficult) Adundant divis, unaccompanied, or accompanying instruments are fully independent from voice parts, many chromatics and/or key changes, long and/or broken phrases, potentially little homophony, complex rhythms, extreme ranges, use of challenging or unusual extended vocal techniques, abundant sustained singing.