Our Director - Stephen Gothold, Music Director
Founder of Chorale Bel Canto, Stephen Gothold has been the group’s conductor and music director since 1981. A graduate of Whittier College, Dr. Gothold was director of Choral Activities there from 1977 until his retirement in 2005. He received his Master of Arts degree from Occidental College and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California, where he served two years as visiting professor of choral music. He is currently Director of Choral Studies at the University of La Verne. Dr. Gothold is also Director of Music Ministries at the First United Methodist Church in Pasadena.
Dr. Gothold studied under Helmuth Rilling at the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart, Germany. He is also past president of the American Choral Directors Association, Southern California Chapter.
For more than twenty-five years, Dr. Gothold has combined careers in concert music, music education, and musical theatre. He has served as musical director for more than one hundred musical productions in education, community, and professional theatre on both coasts, and was twice recipient of the Dramalogue Critics Circle Award.
