Dennis Northway's profession is comprised of four components: conducting, education, organ and church music, and composition.  Closely tied to this is active work in consulting, both with choral clinics and with educational symposia.  He has a thorough music history background, is a skilled organist, published composer (Belwin Mills, World Library), a seasoned conductor, and active pipe organ designer.  Well known as a conductor of musicians of all ages, Dr. Northway has worked with ensembles of widely ranging ability levels.  He has a Doctorate in Choral Conducting from Northwestern University where he also attained candidacy for a Ph.D. in Musicology.  Northway also has degrees in composition and Church Music, (Concordia University, River Forest, IL) and Music Education, with an emphasis in Organ, and Voice at the undergraduate level (University of Missouri, St. Louis).  He is state certified to teach music K - 12 in Missouri (life) and Illinois.

Northway, for nearly a quarter of a century was Parish Musician at Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park, IL. He is currently Artistic Director of the Handel Week, Incorporated, an annual Handel Festival also held in Oak Park; and is a representative of John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders based in Champaign, IL.

Known for his exciting conducting and his warm, energetic personal style, his schedule as a clinician usually comprises ten to twenty workshops or clinics a year.  He is well known as a private voice, organ and composition teacher and is regularly sought out for his insights in this area.  Dr. Northway also has a strong sense of social mission which has led him to found community choirs, conduct senior citizen choruses, and has taught regularly in some of the most  high -risk neighborhoods in the city of Chicago.