Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
1968-1974 Indiana University
Doctor of Music (Choral Music), 1974 (with highest distinction)
Document: A Conductor's Analysis of Brahms'
"Ein deutsches Requiem," Opus 45
Major Professors: Julius Herford, Don V Moses,
Fiora Contino, Ralph Appleman
1958-1961 Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey
Bachelor of Music (Voice), 1960
Master of Music (Choral Conducting), 1961
Major Professors: Julius Herford, Warren Martin,
Nicolas Harsanyi, Robert Simpson
1956-1958 Emory University
Two years, liberal arts
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: EMPLOYMENT
1974 to present University of Massachusetts Amherst
Professor of Music, Director of Choral Programs
2001-2002 Springfield (MA) Symphony Orchestra Choral Director (Interim)
1992-1999 Williams College
Choral Director
1979-1983 Springfield (MA) Symphony Orchestra
Choral Director
1971-1974 Indiana University at South Bend
Lecturer in Music
1973-1974 Elkhart (IN) Symphony Orchestra
Choral Director
Assistant Conductor
1965-1971 West Georgia College
Carrollton
Assistant Professor
Director of Choral Activities
1961-1965 Westmont United Presbyterian Church, Johnstown, PA
Director of Music
1962-1965 Johnstown Symphony Orchestra
Choral Director
Assistant Conductor
ADJUDICATOR
Various Music Festivals and Massachusetts Music Educators Association
GUEST APPEARANCES
As Conductor:
[2007] Massachusetts All-State Chorus
2006 July 29-August 5, Teacher of Conducting master classes at the 7th Taipei International Choral Festival, Taiwan
October, Clinics/Lectures “On Learning and Teaching Conducting;” New Hampshire Music Educators Fall Conference, Manchester
November, Member of Juried Panel on Teaching Undergraduate Conducting,
Inaugural Conference, National Collegiate Choral Organization, San Antonio
October 29, “Remembrance Chorus”, Northampton, MA: Frank martin, “Mass for double Choir”
2005 (No guest conducting while preparing the ACDA Eastern Division Convention for New York City, February, ’06)
Consultations/Clinics/Rehearsal Conductor at St. Mark’s School, Marlborough, MA and Lynnfield (MA) High School
2004 Cape and Islands (MA) Festival
University of Massachusetts Orchestra
Concert Tour of Leipzig, Vienna and Venice
(Thomaskirche, Stephansdom, Basilica di San marco)
2003 Church Festival Workshop, Virginia
2002 Five College Choral Festival Commissioned Work
Handel Society, Dartmouth College
2001 Stockbridge (MA) Festival Chorus
Western District Chorus (MMEA)
Paper "The Pedagogy of Beginning Conducting" College Music Society,
Northeast, Lewiston, ME
1999 University of Massachusetts Wind Ensemble (May)
University of Massachusetts Commencement Band (Wind Ensemble and
Symphony Band) May
Concert Tour: Venice, Florence, Rome, Italy, University Chamber Choir
1998 In-Service Workshop (four days), Leader and Conductor, Springfield (MA)
Teachers "Giving All Children Their Voice Through Music"
Northeast District MMEA Chorus
Northeastern Vermont Music Festival Chorus
Concert Tour: Venice, Florence, Rome
1997 Guest Conductor, Young Memorial Scholarship Benefit Concert
Covington, GA
1996 Polychoral Music (including "Spem in Alium")
St. Ignatius Church, New York City
1995 NYSCAME Festival Chorus (Suffolk Co., NY)
Concert Tour: Venice, Florence, Rome; Williams College Chamber
1995 Cape and Islands (MA) Festival Chorus, Nantucket
1995 Five College Choral Festival, Northampton, MA
1994 Connecticut All-State Chorus (CMEA)
1993 Massachusetts ACDA Choral Festival
1991 Five College Choral Festival
1990 Northeast District Chorus (MMEA)
1989 Southeast District Orchestra (MMEA)
1990 Five College Orchestra
(Western Wind Workshop Conductor Summer)
Massachusetts Music Educators Association Southeastern District Orchestra
1989 New England Music Festival Association Festival Chorus
1988 Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) All-State Chorus
Mt. Holyoke College Chamber Singers
1987 MMEA Northeastern District Orchestra
MMEA All-State Conference (Madrigal Singers)
Springfield (MA) Community Music School Orchestra (Benefit Concert)
Rhode Island Music Educators All-State Chorus
ACDA Fall Conference (Madrigal Singers)
1986 Springfield CM School Orchestra (Benefit Concert)
1985 Iowa All-State Chorus
MMEA Central District Chorus
1984 Covington, GA, Festival Chorus, with members of the Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra (Brahms, "A German Requiem")
1983 Iowa State University Honors Choir
New England Music Festival Association (NEMFA) Chorus
Connecticut Music Educators Central District Chorus
1982 MMEA All-State Orchestra
Five-College Symphony Orchestra
1981 Springfield (MA) Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
MMEA Western District Chorus
1980 Five-College Festival Orchestra
NEMFA Orchestra
Springfield (MA) Youth Symphony
Massachusetts and Connecticut Association of Private Secondary School
Festival Chorus
1979 MMEA All-State Chorus
Springfield Young Peoples Philharmonic
1978 MMEA Northeastern District Chorus
1977 MMEA Western District Chorus
1976 Quabbin Valley (MA) Music Educators Festival Chorus
University of Iowa Summer Chorus
1974 Premiere Performances of "The Lady of the House"
Ft. Wayne, (IN) Performing Arts Center
University of Iowa Summer High School Festival Chorus
1973 University of Iowa Summer High School Festival Chorus Elkhart and
St. Joseph (IN) Counties Seven School Choral Festival
South Bend (IN) Chamber Orchestra
Elkhart (IN) Symphony Orchestra
Elkhart County Council of Churches Choral Festival
1972 Elkhart County Council of Churches Choral Festival
1970 Georgia Music Educators All-State Chorus
1966 Emory University "Summer Sings"
1964 Pennsylvania Music Educators Somerset County Festival Chorus
1963 Pennsylvania Music Educators Somerset County Festival Chorus
As Lecturer, Clinician or Visiting Teacher:
Summer, 2006 Master classes in conducting, Seventh Taipei (Taiwan) International Choral Festival, July 29 – August 5.
1992 to present Workshops and In-Service Clinics at High Schools: Norwood (MA),
Attleboro (MA), Middletown (NJ), Mt. Holyoke College (MA),
St. Mark's School (MA), ACDA Summer Conferences (MA)
("Score Study") Temple University; ACDAV College/University
Reading Session, Providence (RI), February 1998
1993 "The Conductor's Preparation of the Score" – Massachusetts ACDA
Summer Conference
1991 Music Educators National Conference, Eastern Division Conference,
Lecture, "Diction: The Link Between Technique and Expression"
1990 Clinician, ACDA Eastern Division Convention (Washington, DC)
"Working with Orchestral Musicians")
(Clinician, Massachusetts Music Educators All-State Conference,
March 1990: "Choral Diction")
1984 ACDA: Score Analysis and Rehearsing, University of Maine/Orono
1981 MMEA: "Analysis for the Choral Conductor"
1978 MMEA: "Choral Diction"
1977 MMEA: "Analysis for the Choral Conductor"
1976 University of Iowa, Visiting Assistant Professor
1968 Georgia Music Educators Association (Clinic: "New Directions
in Choral Music")
1966 Governor's Honors Program (State of Georgia)
1966 Emory University, Guest Lecturer
As Adjudicator:
Frequently in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, for Music Educators, American Choral Directors Association, and others.
Scholarly Work:
Doctoral Document "A Conductor's Analysis of Brahms's Ein Deutches Requiem, Opus 45"
Indiana University, August 1974.
Article, Choral Journal, Vol. 38/2 (Sept. 1998) "What's in a Label?" Structure and Emotion in
Brahms's Requiem, Movement 6 Finale, Choral Journal, pp. 17-21.
Review of Michael Musgrave, Brahms: A German Requiem, Cambridge University Press Choral
Journal, Vol. 38/2 (Sept. 1998), pp. 59-60.
Paper to be read at College Music Society Regional Meeting (April 27-28, 2001, Lewiston, ME) on
"The Pedagogy of Beginning Conducting."
Leader, Interest Session on Conducting, ACDA Eastern Division Conference, Pittsburg, PA
(Feb. 2002)
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
American Choral Directors Association (President-Elect, Eastern Division, 2002-2004, President,
Eastern Division, 2004-2006, President-Elect, Massachusetts Chapter 1989-1991,
President 1991-1993)
American Choral Foundation
College Music Society
Conductor's Guild, Borad of Directors (2003-2005)
Music Educators National Conference/Massachusetts Music Educators Association (Executive
Board member, 1989-1991)
Massachusetts Society of Professors
HONORS
1993 and 1995 Conducting Fellow of the Oregon Bach Festival
(Helmet Rilling, Thomas Somerville)
1974 Doctorate awarded "With Highest Distinction"
1973 Elected to Pi Kappa Lambda
1968-1970 Indiana University Graduate Assistantship in Choral Music
1969 Indiana University Fellowship
1960 Theodore Presser Award, Westminster Choir College
SELECTED REPERTOIRE
[* = prepared chorus for performance(s) under another conductor]
Anonymous Messe de tournai
Bach, J.S. Ach Gott, wie manches Herzelied, BWV 3
Also hat Gott..., BWV 68
Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128
Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4
Concerto No. 2 in F, BWV 1047
*Gottes Zeit, BWV 104
Jesu, meine Fredue, BWV 227
Lobet den Herrn, BWV 230
Magnificat in D, BWV 243
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61
Passio secundum Joannem, BWV 245
Passio secundum Mattheum, BWV 244
Schauet doch und sehet, BWV 46
Singet dem Herrn ein neuses Lied, BWV 225
Suite No. 3, BWV 1028
Banchieri Festino
Barber A Nun Takes the Veil, Op. 13/1
Reincarnations
Bassett Collect
Beethoven Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 19
Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra, Op. 56
Mass in C Major, Op. 86
*Missa Solemnis in D Major, Op. 123
Symphony No. 5, Op. 67
Symphony No. 8, Op. 93
Symphony No. 9, Op. 125
Berlioz Le Carnival Romain, Op. 9
*Lelio
*Sardanapale
Bernstein Chichester Psalms
Brahms Akademische Fest-Overature, Op. 80
Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45
Liebeslieder Walzer, Op. 52
Lieder und Romanzen, Op. 93a
Naenie, Op. 82
Motets, Op. 74/1 and 2
Quartette, Op. 92
*Schicksalslied, Op. 54
Symphony No. 2, Op. 73
Variationen ueber ein Thema von Haydn, Op. 52A
Britten A Cermony of Carols, Op. 28
Festival Te Deum, Op. 32
Hymn to St. Cecilia, Op. 37
Missa Brevis in D, Op. 63
Psalm 150, Op. 67
Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30
*Saint Nicolas, Op. 42
Bruckner Te Deum, various motets
Byrd Ave Verum Corpus, various motets
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Second Service)
Orpheus, various madrigals
Copeland Choral Finale from "Canticle of Freedom"
"In the Beginning"
Four Dance Episodes from "Rodeo"
The Lark
Old American Songs
Davies The Lord's Prayer
Shall I, Moder
Debussy *L'Enfant Prodique
Trois Chansons
Dunstable Quam pulchra es
Dvorak *Requiem, Op. 48
Symphony No. 9, Op. 95
Elgar Sea-Pictures, Op. 37
Faure Requiem, Op. 48
Tantum ergo, Op. 65/2
Gabrieli, A. Dialogo
Gabrieli, G. O che felice giorno, various motets
Gershwin "An American in Paris"
Gesualdo Moro lasso, other madrigals
Handel "Messiah"
Haydn, F.J. Mass in Bb Major (Theresienmesse)
Missa Brevis (St. Joannis de Deo)
Scena di Berenice
*Die Schoepfung
Symphony No. 88 in G
Symphony No. 104 in D
Te Deum
Various Vocal Quartettes
Henry VIII Oh my Hart
Pastime with Good Company
Hindemith *Apparebit Repentina Dies
Chansons
Madrigale (1958) (six of the twelve)
Isaac Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen, various Lieder
Ives *Harvest Home Chorales
Psalm 67
Psalm 90
Psalm 150
Janacek Elegie, *Nursery Rhymes
Kay The Great Black Crow
Skylark
Kodaly False Spring
Missa Brevis
Lassus Bonjour mon coeur
En moyant chanter
In hora ultima
O la, o che buon eco
Sauter, Danser
Various other works
Machaut Messe de Nostre Dane
Ma fin est ma commencement
Mahler *Symphony No. 2
Martin, Frank Mass for Double Choir
Mendelssohn Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 64
Der Zweite Psalm, Op. 78/1
Various smaller choral works
Monteverdi Christe, Adoramus Te
Ecco Mormorar l'onde
Lamento d'Arianna
Quel augellin
Quel squardo sdegnosetto
Sfogava con le stelle
Si, chi'io vorrei Morire
Vaga su spina
Zefiro torna
Various other works
Morley About the Maypole
Eheu, eheu
Fire, fire
I goe before my darling
The Nightengale
Now is the Month of Maying
Various other madrigals and motets
Mozart Serenade in G, K. 545
Ave Verum Corpus, K. 615
Missa Brevis, K. 192
Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat, K. 364
Symphony No. 39, K. 543
Prokofieff *Alexander Nevsky
Lieutenant Kije Suite, Op. 60
Purcell Lord, How Long will Thou be Angry
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis
Ravel Trois Chansons
Schein Christ lag in Todesbanden
Die mit Traenen Sacen
Ein feste Burg
Schoenberg *Friede auf Erden
Three Pieces for Chamber Orchestra (1910)
Schubert Der 92. Psalm (in Hebrew)
Mass in G Major, D. 167
Schuetz Die Himmel erzaelen
Die sieben Worte
Selig sind die Toten
Deus misereatus nostri
Ein kind ist uns geboren
Fuggi, fuggi
Himmel und Erde vergehen
Ich will den Herren loben
Io moro
Selig sind die Toten
So fahr ich hin
Schumann Romanzen fuer Frauenstimmen, Op. 69, 91
Spanische Liederspiel, Op. 71
Senfl Ach Elslein
Oho, so geb der mann
Various other works
Stern An August Morning (1982)
Hear, O Israel (1961)
Madrigals
Two Poems (1990)
Bench Verses (1996)
Stravinsky *Canticum Sacrum
Four Russian Peasant Songs (1916)
Mass (1948)
Orpheus
Suite (1919): L'Oiseaux de Feu
Symphony of Psalms
Tchaikovsky Nutcracker (Ballet)
Romeo and Juliet (Overture)
Thomson Seven Choruses from "Medea"... (Choir and Percussion)
Various other choral works
Tippet Dance, Clarion Air
Verdi *Requiem
Wagner Prelude to "Die Meistersinger..."
Xenakis *Medea
*Orestia Suite
Also various smaller works by Arcadelt, Bennett, Billings, Cornysh, Constantini, Dawson, Fussell, Gibbons, Handl, Holst, Pachelbel, Palestrina, Pilkington, Pinkham, Praetorius, Scheidt, Thompson, Vaughan Williams, Victoria, Weelkes.
FIRST PERFORMANCES CONDUCTED
John T. MacLean Sanctus – Osanna (1968)
Portrait for Flute, Basson and String Orchestra (1970)
Bruce Hemingway Three Poems (1972)
Fritz Hepner The Lady of the House (Musical/Operetta) (1974)
Karen Tarlow Fields of Sorrow (Women's Chorus, Piano, Flute and Harp) (1977)
I Wish to Work Miracles (1987)
Paul Halley Verbum Caro
Susan Hurley Breathing (Tenor and Chamber Soloists) (1977)
Robert Kyr *Unseen Rain (1994) (Chamber Version)
Gregory Bullen Agnus Dei (1981)
Robert Stern Two Poems on Texts of Richard Wilbur (1989)
An August Morning (Mixed Choir, Piano and Two Oboes)
(East Coast Premiere, 1982)
Three Poems (1985)
Two Poems (1990)
Bench Verses (1996)
Charles Bestor Monday's Child (1987)
Lew Spratlan Dona nobis pacem (2002)
[* - prepared choirs for performance]
E. Wayne Abercrombie
89 Huntington Road
Hadley, MA 01035
413/549-5980
