Charles Bruffy is one of the most admired choral conductors in the United States, respected and renowned for his fresh and passionate interpretations of standards of the choral repertory and for championing new music. He currently conducts the Kansas City Chorale, the Kansas City Symphony Chorus and the Phoenix Chorale, and is Director of Music at Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church.

He is dedicated to commissioning and premiering works by contemporary American composers, and has received ASCAP's Adventurous Programming award. Recent commissions and premieres include works by Jean Belmont, Matthew Harris, Libby Larsen, Zhou Long, Stephen Paulus, Stephen Sametz, Eric Whitacre, Rene Clausen and Chen Yi. The Roger Dean Company, a division of the Lorenz Corporation, publishes a choral series under Bruffy's supervision specializing in music for professional ensembles and sophisticated high school and college choirs.

Bruffy has been Artistic Director of the Phoenix Chorale since 1999 and of the Kansas City Chorale since 1988. The choirs are praised for both their live performances and recordings. Bruffy's eclectic discography of over 13 recordings includes music by Argento, Brahms, Corigliano, Gretchaninov, Martin, Mantyjarvi, Rachmaninov and Vaughan Williams. Released in 1996, the Kansas City Chorale's recording of Rachmaninov's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (Nimbus NI 5497/8), garnered praise by the New York Times stating "...a project that must be rated a serious contender for record of the year...the chorus is everywhere remarkable." In 2008, Mr. Bruffy and the Phoenix Chorale received a Grammy award for their Chandos recoding, Spotless Rose, "Best Performance by a Small Ensemble."

Mr. Bruffy conducts workshops and clinics across the United States. Increasingly busy on the international scene, he has conducted performances in Australia's Sydney Opera House and most recently in South Korea. Also an active tenor soloist, Bruffy performed with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers in recordings and concerts in France, and in concerts at Carnegie Hall. He is a featured soloist on the Robert Shaw release Appear and Inspire.

Mr. Bruffy received his Bachelors degree from Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Missouri and a Master's degree in vocal performance from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri Kansas City. Mr. Bruffy has received honorary doctorates from Baker University and Missouri Western State University.

Awards
2009 - Grammy Winner - Best Small Ensemble Performance - Spotless Rose
2013 - Grammy Winner - Best Choral Performance - Life & Breath - Choral Works by René Clausen
2016 - Grammy Winner - Best Choral Performance - Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil

Groups Directed

Kansas City Chorale

Phoenix Bach Choir