S. Mark Aliapoulios – Artistic Director
S. Mark Aliapoulios is in his twelfth season as the thirteenth Artistic Director of The Choral Society of the Palm Beaches. He serves as an Associate Professor of Voice on the faculty of Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach. He has just completed four years on the faculty at Florida International University directing the Concert Choir, Women’s Chorus and serving as Coordinator of Vocal Studies. Formerly he has served as an Associate Professor on the voice and opera faculties of Florida Atlantic University (2010-2012), The University of Miami School of Music (2001-2002 and 2010-2011), Palm Beach Atlantic University School of Music and Fine Arts (2002-2006) where he also served as the Chair of Vocal Studies and the Boston University School of Music and Fine Arts (1984-2001). Prior to this he taught on the faculties of the University of Massachusetts (Boston) and the New England Conservatory of Music. He is also Director of Music Ministries at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in West Palm Beach.
A baritone, Mr. Aliapoulios made his concert debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the age of 25 along with cellist, Yo Yo Ma. He has since appeared as guest soloist with such other highly acclaimed organizations as The Cleveland Orchestra, The Pittsburgh Symphony, The Symphonic Orchestra of Belgrade Radio/Television (Yugoslavia), The Shinsei Nippon Symphony (Japan), The Portland Symphony, The Vermont Symphony, The Handel and Haydn Society, The Mark Morris Dance Company, The Tanglewood Festival Chorus, The Boston Ballet Orchestra, The Longwood Symphony as well as The Opera Company of Boston, The Boston Lyric Opera, Palm Beach Opera, The Miami Bach Society, The Florida Philharmonic Chorus, and The Masterworks Chorale, among others.
As a soloist he has sung under the batons of leading international conductors Leonard Slatkin, Seiji Ozawa, Kurt Mazur, Eric Leinsdorf, Lucas Foss, Sarah Caldwell, Jonathan McPhee, Jaime Laredo and Robert Shaw.
An advocate of new music, Mr. Aliapoulios has premiered works composed expressly for him by Boston’s Daniel Pinkham and New York’s Kenneth Fuchs. He created the role of “Cadmos” in the 1995 world premiere of The Bacchae by Theodore Antoniou at the Athens Festival in Greece. He also sang the role of “The Father” in the world premiere of The Juniper Tree” by Phillip Glass at the American Repertory Theatre and created the role of “Creon” in the world premiere of Medea by Ray Luke.
Mr. Aliapoulios is a regular clinician and adjudicator for voice and choral festivals held around the country by Heritage Festivals, Performing Arts Consultants and Ovation Festivals (New Jersey), as well as Music festivals Inc., Gateway Festivals, Music Festivals USA, and The Florida Vocal Association, among others. For a number of years he was represented by Artists International Management in New York City. For almost twenty years he was the baritone for The American Vocal Arts Quintets and recorded with them on the Titanic Label. His recording of the title role in the World Premiere of Ethan Fromm by Douglas Allanbrook was released on the Mapleshade Classic Label. He currently lives in Lake Worth with his wife Kimberlee, a professional flutist and Director of Bands at St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Palm Beach Gardens.