Derek Chester's Evangelist could hold its own next to Mark Padmore's. – Choir and Organ

Without doubt, Derek Chester has a great career ahead of him as the Evangelist in any baroque passion – he tells the story while sustaining a glorious sound (an essential in this repertoire) – Early Music

 

The Mozart-Handel tandem continued with a finely etched and compelling Torna la pace al core from Idomeneo via tenor Derek Chester who recently played Evangelist in St. John Passion under the renowned Helmuth Rilling, conductor of the Stuttgart Bach Collegium. – Coral Gables Gazette

 

Derek Chester’s noble tenor soared eloquently in the concluding aria from Idomeneo, effortlessly reaching the highest limits of the upper register.   –South Florida Sun-Sentinel

 

(…Derek Chester…filled smaller role[s] with assurance…(Elijah, Back Bay Chorale).   –Boston Globe

 

Tenor Derek Chester tossed off roulades of coloratura in a firm, secure voice [Monteverdi’s Vespers, Seraphic Fire].  –Miami Herald

 

 

The madrigal-like writing for three tenors in the Duo Seraphim brought out the music’s unearthly beauty and tenor Derek Chester’s hale, refined tone in the Audi coelum was a highlight [Monteverdi’s Vespers, Seraphic Fire]. – South Florida Sun-Sentinel

 

 

In the solemn Yom Kippur prayer Kol Nidre by Hirsch Weintraub, the fine Mozartean lyric tenor Derek Chester…sang out nobly [Sephardic Fire, Seraphic Fire]. – Miami Herald

 

 

Though still in his mid-20s, the beauty and natural ease with which [Derek Chester] took the Evangelist’s role under James Taylor’s expert tutelage in the same St John Passion performances has landed him not only accolades from discerning audiences at Yale and in New York, but a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Germany with Christoph Pregardien….Amazingly, even a European ear would not have guessed that Derek hails from Nicholson, Georgia [Bach’s St. John Passion, Yale Schola Cantorum] - Choir and Organ Magazine

 

 

Matching the orchestra in sonic diversity were eight vocal soloists, ranging widely in timbre and stage presence but united by excellent interpretation. The exuberance of these appealing, youthful singers accorded well with the music, whose generally light and bouncy nature aptly reflects the holiday season…. The impressive Chester masterfully performed two virtuosic arias, “Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet” (Joyful shepherds, haste, ah hasten) and “Ich will nur dir ze Ehren leben” (I would but for thine honor live now), with effortless agility [Weihnachts Oratorium, American Bach Soloists]. – San Francisco Classical Voice

 

Tenor Derek Chester should have brought down the house with his terrific breath control & exactness in the thrilling coloratura aria "Frohe Hirten, eilt"[Weihnachts Oratorium, American Bach Soloists]. – Not for Fun Only (Arts Blog:  Fun and Enlightenment in San Francisco)

 

…tenor Derek Chester brought fine character reading to Comfort ye against the soothing strings [Handel’s Messiah]. – Coral Gables Gazette

 

…der Tenor Derek Chester, der im letzten Moment für den erkrankten Mark Heines einsprang, sang das Werk an diesem Abend mit Bravour zum ersten Mal in seiner

noch jungen Karriere [Weihnachts Oratorium, St. Katharina, Willich, Germany]. <The tenor Derek Chester, substituting at the last moment for the ill Mark Heines, sang the work on this evening with bravour for the first time in his very young career.> - Pfarrbrief, Willich

 

 

Strong performances were presented by…Derek Chester as Don Curzio…[Marriage of Figaro, Athena Grand Opera]. – Athens Banner Herald