Eric Dale Knapp, Artistic Director and Conductor, has a dynamic conducting style, commitment and energy that empowers the musicians he leads to provide stirring performances for audiences around the world. A versatile musical leader, equally adept with Classics and Pops,  Mr. Knapp's finely honed ability to communicate through both gesture and speech place him at the forefront of the rising conductors of his generation.

Together with the Board of Trustees, Eric Dale Knapp continue to lead the choir in a forward direction with its choral concerts, providing audiences with programming that is refreshingly unique in multifaceted performances. The collaboration between Knapp and NJCS began in earnest in July 2005 with the exceptional experience of a ten-day performance tour of the Czech Republic and Germany. The 2005-2006 season, entitled “Les Images de France”, took the choir and audiences on a musical journey through the romantic country of France. In the 2006-2007 season, "...the essence of time," NJCS collaborated with youth choruses, dancers, and the William Paterson University Jazz Orchestra. Inspired by Knapp’s vision, some choral performances are enhanced by visual effects, lighting, dance and costumes. The 2007-2008 season found the choir celebrating American music, composers and performers in "AMERICAN ICONS" and the 2008-2009 season fulfilled its promise to "Inspire!"  The 2009-2010 season, "LUX", opened with the golden lights of the holidays, dazzled with the stage lights of Broadway and Hollywood, and closed with the eternal light of Faure's Requiem and a world premiere of Requiem by Joakim Seidevall with the composer present for the performance. 2010-2011 marked NJCS's 30th Anniversary Season. Under Mr. Knapp's direction, the 2011-2012 season, voce, promises once again to highlight the passion, excellence and imagination of the New Jersey Choral Society.

Mr. Knapp is the founder and Music Director of Orchestra de Camerata at the Salisbury House in Des Moines, Iowa, where he also serves as Artistic Director of Chamber Music. He is Artistic Director and Conductor of the Connecticut Choral Society. Other positions include Artistic Advisor for KIconcerts, and Principal Conductor of the American Festival Symphony and Chorale at Carnegie Hall. For 13 years he served as Music Director and Senior Organist at Faith Lutheran Church in Des Moines, IA.

Mr. Knapp’s considerable range of talent and experience is taking the New Jersey Choral Society to new places not only artistically, but literally. Members of the choir have enjoyed numerous opportunities for performing at Carnegie Hall. Choristers travelled to Vienna in July 2009 for the International Haydn Festival, singing in the glorious Musikverein and Konzerthaus. In July 2008, Mr. Knapp led singers and musicians from North America and China for performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in Perform in Harmony - With Olympic Spirit, the Concerts of International Friendship & Goodwill, held in Beijing and Shanghai in celebration of the XXIX Olympiad. In July 2006 and again in 2011, NJCS participated in festivals in Sydney, Australia under the baton of Mr. Knapp, performing at the famous Sydney Opera House.

A graduate of Drake University, Mr. Knapp has served on the conducting faculty and was appointed a Drake Fellow for graduate study in conducting. A versatile musical leader, he is equally adept with Classics and Pops. Knapp is “thrilled to be working with the New Jersey Choral Society as Artistic Director and Conductor.  Nowhere is the human spirit of aspiration for excellence more alive than with the fine people of NJCS - people that love the music, understand the discipline, and seek to serve the community through great programs of varied repertoire.  Together we are growing in so many ways. We have appeared on the world stages of Dvorak Hall in Prague and the Sydney Opera House and through it all enjoyed the lovely community found within.  What more could any conductor ask for than commitment to the music and the synergies of intellect and tremendous spirit?”