Thomas J. Hart's Vita<!wide>

Professor of Music
Director of Choirs

Office Phone: 641-784-5276
Email: hart@graceland.edu

EDUCATION:

• 1983-1989 Doctor of Musical Arts, Michigan State University Choral Conducting. Final Paper and Performance: “Stravinsky’s Mass: A Renaissance Perspective” 9/1/89
• 1981-1983 Master of Music, Choral Conducting, Michigan State University, 6/5/83
• 1974-1978 Bachelor of Arts, Majors in Music Theory/History and Political Science, Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan. 5/12/78

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• 1986-present
  • Director of Choirs and Professor of Music Graceland University, Lamoni, IA
  • Responsibilities include leadership of the choral/vocal program, conducting a 65-voice Concert Choir, select Chamber Singers, recruitment, supervision of vocal student teachers, and lecturing on secondary choral methods. Additional outreach activities include organization of biannual choir tour, recording projects, working with area high school choirs, clinics, and an invitational choir festival linking rural and urban choirs.
  • Teaching responsibilities have included Conducting I and II (Choral Conducting), Music History I and III, interdisciplinary Humanities courses, 50-voice Chapel Choir, and topics courses in music. I have developed two new courses for the general education program: Music for the Theatre (Musicals, Opera, Ballet, and Film Score) and Music and Worship in the Western Church. Committee assignments have included Promotion and Tenure Committee, Graduate Council, Concert-Lecture Series, eleven faculty search committees, a Presidential Task Force on outreach, and served as facilitator for the Arts, Humanities and Sciences Task Force.
• 1996-2001
  • Chairperson of the Fine Arts Division/Music Department Coordinator, Graceland University, Lamoni, IA
  • Responsible for academic programs in departments of art, music and theatre; curriculum enhancement, faculty development, coordination of recruitment efforts, planning and budgetary processes.
• 2000-2001
  • Interim Director of Bay View Music Festival Responsible for staffing, program coordination, scheduling, and recruitment for this eight-week summer festival. Focus on graduate and post-graduate studies in chamber music and opera. Program nine Sunday Vesper Concerts, eight Wednesday Festival Concerts, Crouse Visiting Artists – Bach Aria Group, Boston Brass, and Mr. George Shirley.
• 1985-1989
  • Choral Department Chair
• 1990-2000
  • Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Twin Lake, Michigan Responsible for development and implementation of the vocal program. Conductor of massed choir (250 high school students from Michigan, Illinois and Indiana) and orchestra. Responsible for hiring eight voice instructors, two accompanists, and a choral director. Conducted faculty vocal ensemble for Michigan Public Radio.
• 1983-1986
  • Graduate Assistant in Choral Conducting, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
  • Conductor of MSU Women’s Glee Club (‘83-’84) Conductor of MSU Collegiate Choir (Spring, 1983) Assistant Conductor MSU Chorale and State Singers Conductor of MSU Chamber Choir (Spring, 1985) Supervisor for master’s candidate conducting recital (Spring, ’85) Coordinated outreach projects in the choral area including two Invitational Choral Festivals and Choral Leadership Workshop Conducting Scholarship Recipient.
• 1983-1986
  • Director of Choirs, First Presbyterian Church, Lansing, Michigan
  • Responsible for coordination and scheduling of large, multi-choir program, direction of Chancel Choir, programming of handbell choir, conducting combined ensembles, performance of two major works per year, direction of other chamber groups.
• 1979-1982
  • Assistant to the Chairman, Olivet College Performing Arts Department, Olivet, Michigan
  • Responsible for operation of performing arts facilities, supervision of student staff of 40, all performing arts outreach programs, recruitment of new music students, development and maintenance of good relationships with high school music programs, and liaison with college offices for admissions, publicity, and development. Musical responsibilities included preparation of chorus for annual opera production, vocal coaching for musical theatre, and assisting choral ensembles.

CONDUCTING AND CLINICS:

• 2001- present
  • Bay View Music Festival Summer Chorus, Conductor
  • Included a performance of the Beethoven Choral Fantasy, Anthony P. Padilla, piano, and the Bay View Chamber Orchestra.
• November, 2000
  • South Central Honor Choir, Director Des Moines, Iowa
• November, 1998
  • Iowa Choral Directors Collegiate Honor Choir Coordinator Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
• Fall, 1997
  • Co-coordinator of the Iowa Music Educators Collegiate Honor Choir.
• Summer, 1995
  • Bay View Music Festival Summer Chorus, Conductor Included a performance of the Fauré Requiem with the Bay View Chamber Orchestra.
• July, 1993
  • Guest Conductor, Bay View Music Festival Chorus, Bay View, MI
• November, 1992
  • Landes Jugendchor, Schleswig-Holstein , Germany, Guest Conductor Concert of American Choral Music, Copland’s In the Beginning, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and selected works by Ives. Hamburg, Germany. Broadcast of DDR 3.
• October, 1990
  • Conference Honors Choir. Pride of Iowa Conference Festival for 100 Selected high school students.
• High School
• March, 2001
  • Clinic with the Bishop Heelan High School Chorale, Memphis, TN
• 1993-1998
  • Rehearsal/clinics include choirs from: Leon High School, Park Hill High School, Truman High School, Lamoni High School, Jackson High School, Hoover High School, Murray High School.
• January, 1994
  • Musical Arts Institute. Worked with voice students and the choir from a private music school, Independence, Missouri.
• March, 1993
  • West Conference Choral Festival Critiqued six choirs on festival music and conducted massed choirs in selected compositions. Kearney, Missouri.

RECORDINGS AND BROADCASTS:

• Michigan Public Radio
• August, 2000
  • Vivaldi, Beatus Vir Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Faculty Orchestra and High School Chorus
• August, 1999
  • Vivaldi, Lauda Jerusalem and Fauré Requiem Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Faculty Orchestra and High School Chorus
• August, 1998
  • Beethoven, Mass in C, Opus 86 Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Faculty Orchestra and Festival Chorus
• August, 1997
  • Stravinsky, Symphony of Psalms, Bernstein, Chichester Psalms Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Faculty Orchestra and High School Chorus
• August, 1996
  • Orff, Carmina Burana, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Faculty Orchestra and High School Chorus.
• August, 1995
  • Duruflé Requiem, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp International Orchestra and High School Chorus.
• August, 1994
  • Mendelssohn, Elijah, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp International Orchestra and High School Chorus.
• August, 1993
  • Rutter, The Falcon, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp International Orchestra and High School Chorus.
• North German Radio
• November, 1992
  • Copland, In the Beginning, Bernstein Chichester Psalms, selected works by Ives. Landes Jugendchor, Schleswig-Holstein. NDR 3, Hamburg, Germany.
• Iowa Public Radio
• Fall, 1989
  • Chorus Master, Brahms, Requiem, Graceland College Choirs and Orchestra on “University Concert Hour.”
• Herald House
• September, 1995
  • Commemorative Album: 100 years at Graceland. Centennial recording by Graceland College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers.
• Fall, 1992
  • Christmas at Graceland College, Cassette tape. Recorded live on campus of Graceland College, Herald House Publishing, R.B.W., Inc., engineers.
• Spring, 1990
  • The Hymns of Roy Cheville. Twenty-three hymns by former professor. R.B.W., Inc., engineers.

MUSICAL THEATRE AT GRACELAND UNIVERSITY:

• 1994 Music Director Into the Woods
• 1993 Music Director Baby
• 1991 Music Director Spokesong
• 1990 Music Director Working
• 1989 Music Advisor The Fantasticks
• 1988 Music Director Hello Dolly
• 1987 Music Director Quilters
• 1986 Music Director Guys and Dolls

OPERA WORKSHOP:

• 1993 Directed scenes from various operas and a concert performance of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi.
• 1991 Staged and musically directed winter-term course culminating in performances of three one-act operas: Barber: A Hand of Bridge Barab: Little Red Riding Hood Menotti: Old Maid and the Thief
• 1990 Three-week winter term study culminating in performance of staged scenes from contemporary operatic repertoire.

MISCELLANEOUS:

• 1998-1999 Repertoire and Standards Chair, Collegiate Choirs Iowa Choral Directors Association
• 1997-1998 Coordinator for Iowa Collegiate Honor Choir
• 1989-1993 Adjudicator for various district and regional music contests.
• 1989-1993 Narrator for voice recitals uniting poetry and art song. An Evening of Light Verse, How Does Your Garden Grow? Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, All I Need to Know (Lessons From Childhood), All About Love, Schubertiad. Martha J. Hart, mezzo-soprano, Robert Lien, Anthony Patterson, pianists.
• Spring, 1988 Evaluation team for North Central Accreditation Association. Served as primary evaluator of Keokuk High School music program.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

• American Choral Directors Association
• Iowa Choral Directors Association
• Repertoire and Standards Chair for Collegiate Choirs
• Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
• Omicron Delta Kappa
• Music Educators National Conference
• Former member ACDA Central Division Committee on Student Chapters

VOCAL PERFORMANCE:

• Studies with Thomas Jenrette, James Russey (Olivet College) and Ethel J. Armeling (3 years) at Michigan State University.
• Soloist, Requiem, Mozart
• Soloist, Rejoice in the Lamb, Britten
• Soloist, Messiah, Handel
• Chorus, Cinncinati Conservatory of Music Chamber Choir, Performed in auditioned ensemble, Dale Warland, Conductor.
• Chorus, Missa Solemnis, Beethoven, Robert Shaw Institute, performance at Carnegie Hall, New York, January, 1992.
• Chorus, Robert Shaw Institute, Souillac, France, Summer, 1988.

PERSONAL:

• Married to Martha J. Hart, September 1, 1979
• One son, Christopher James, born October 16, 1989