CCM Director of Choral Studies Joe Miller named Music Director of Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble

Joe Miller, conductor
 
Joe Miller – 2026–27 Season Highlights
Renowned choral conductor Joe Miller enters the 2026–27 season with an exceptional slate of performances spanning Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and New York, featuring major works from the choral-orchestral repertoire alongside innovative contemporary programming.
As Music Director of the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati, Miller continues to shape the ensemble’s artistic vision with a season that reflects his commitment to ambitious programming, musical excellence, and creative collaboration. His Cincinnati engagements include performances of Handel’s Esther as part of the May Festival with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, as well as Caroline Shaw’s How to Fold the Wind. He will also lead performances at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), conducting Vaughan Williams’s A Sea Symphony, J. S. Bach’s Cantata No. 131, Aus der Tiefe rufe ich, Herr, zu dir, and David Lang’s the little match girl passion.
Miller continues his distinguished work as Director of the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, collaborating with Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and The Philadelphia Orchestra in a season of landmark repertoire. Programs include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Joe Hisaishi’s Orbis, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. These performances will take place at Marian Anderson Hall in Philadelphia and, for select programs, at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Taken together, the 2026–27 season reflects the breadth of Miller’s artistic leadership—from the great masterworks of Bach, Beethoven, Handel, Mahler, and Orff to the innovative voices of Caroline Shaw, Joe Hisaishi, and David Lang. Across his work with the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati, the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, and CCM, Miller continues to establish himself as a leading voice in American choral music, distinguished by his musical rigor, imaginative programming, and ability to bring choral ensembles to the center of major orchestral and artistic collaborations.

General Biography
Joe Miller is an internationally recognized choral conductor whose career is distinguished by dynamic performances, innovative programming, and a deep commitment to the transformative power of choral music. He serves as Director of the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir and Music Director of the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati, and has conducted and prepared choruses for leading orchestras, opera companies, festivals, and concert venues throughout the United States and abroad.
Miller is known for his work across a broad spectrum of repertoire, from the masterworks of Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, and Orff to contemporary works by some of today’s most important composers. His collaborations with major orchestras and distinguished conductors have brought choral music to audiences in some of the world’s most celebrated concert halls.
A passionate educator and mentor, Miller has also maintained a strong connection to the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where his work combines performance, teaching, and the development of the next generation of choral musicians. Through his conducting, teaching, and artistic leadership, he continues to champion the highest standards of choral artistry while expanding the role of the chorus in contemporary musical life.