Elaine Myhre
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Maura Sharkey-Pryma
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
With over 25 years of intensive training and experience, Maura Sharkey Pryma (she/her), the owner of The Sharkey Voice Studio and creator of Learn English The Sharkey Method™, gives you the best experience as a voice singing specialist, instructor, mentor, clinician and consultant.
Maura has enjoyed teaching voice and performance artistry to young and mature singers for over 25 years. After more than 15 years of teaching at MacEwan University's Conservatory of Music, Maura now holds a position as a sessional voice instructor at MacEwan University's Theatre Arts Program in Musical Theatre Performance, and teaches privately in-person and online from Edmonton, Canada. Besides teaching privately, she instructs a class called Learn English Through Singing The Sharkey Method™ (LETS), an in-person and online 11-week course with a focus of learning English as an additional language and English
pronunciation through contemporary songs.
Maura began voice study at the University of Alberta, receiving a Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music in Vocal Performance. She continued her training at the Salzburg Mozarteum Sommerakademie and with Canadian opera training intensives, Opera NUOVA and The Opera Project. In 2019, she earned certification of completion of the Vocal Pedagogy Professional Workshop Course at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. In
2021, Maura successfully completed Level 3 Somatic Voicework™ training with The LoVetri Institute through Baldwin Wallace University. To that end, Maura still studies voice regularly, attends workshops, maintains a physical practice, and works on her own performance in order to best serve her students.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Fiona Carnie
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Fiona Carnie is the Artistic Director of the Amici String Program in Calgary and is much in demand as an adjudicator and clinician. She played for many years with organizations such as the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, Esprit Orchestra and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Fiona was also a member of the College of Examiners of the Royal Conservatory of Music for 20 years. She holds a B. Mus (with distinction) in Violin Performance from the University of Calgary and a M.M in Violin Performance from Yale. A noted pedagogue, whose current and former students are competition winners, members of many professional orchestras and teach at musical institutions across the continent, she continues to maintain a sizable private studio and to direct the Amici String Program, now established as a leading organization in education for young string players. Fiona is honored to have received the Alberta Music Education Foundation Recognition Award in 2023.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Christina O'Brien
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Jamie Hillman
Session Presenter, AYC Guest Conductor
Music Conference Alberta
Jamie Hillman is a Canadian and American musician, active as a conductor, singer, pianist, music educator, and composer-arranger. He holds the endowed Elmer Iseler Chair in Conducting at the University of Toronto where he is Director of Choral Studies and an Associate Professor. He conducts the U of T MacMillan Singers and leads the master's and doctoral programs in Choral Conducting, as well as the annual summer Choral Conducting Symposium. Professor Hillman is also cross listed as an adjunct faculty member in Emmanuel College's Master of Sacred Music program. Hillman has served on the faculties of Boston University Metropolitan College/Prison Education Program, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Kodály Music Institute, Longy School of Music of Bard College, and Toronto Summer Music. As a Boston University Prison Arts Scholar, Hillman co-initiated an innovative vocal music program in the Massachusetts prison system. Dr. Hillman is an examiner for Conservatory Canada and has adjudicated, guest conducted, performed, and presented throughout Canada and the United States, and in Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Portugal, and Taiwan. He has led All-State, festival, or honor choirs in Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ontario, Rhode Island, Taiwan, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. Most recently he conducted two national festival choruses at Carnegie Hall with Manhattan Concert Productions and National Concerts. He returns to Carnegie Hall in 2025. Hillman has conducted world premieres by Shireen Abu Khader, Matthew Emery, Qiushi Jiang, and Sarah Quartel, among others. He is the curator and editor of The Jamie Hillman Choral Series published by Santa Barbara Music Publishing. His co-editorial work includes numerous editions of Arabic, Asian, Latin American, and Western choral pieces published by Earthsongs and Hinshaw Music.
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Session Presenter, AYC Guest Conductor
Music Conference Alberta
Jan Janovsky
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Mix one part pianist with one part oddball sense of humor, and you get the quirky musical antics of Jan Janovsky. Jan has spent over a decade playing, touring, and directing music. He did this on major cruise lines such as Holland America, Celebrity, Oceania, and Princess. He holds a master's degree in jazz studies from the University of Arkansas. He is a regular clinician and adjudicator for music festivals. He teaches private and group lessons. His students get into top music schools. These include Juilliard, McGill, and Toronto. One of his blind students has made Alberta history by passing the Grade 8 RCM exam.
Jan currently owns and operates Classic Studios music academy in Sherwood Park, Alberta.
His new album, “Hey, Knuckles,” is set to release this spring. For more information, visit janjanovsky.com and classicstudios.ca.
https://janjanovsky.com
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Stephanie Schuurman-Olson
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Stephanie (she/her) is a researcher and musician-educator based in Camrose, AB. She currently teaches early childhood and undergraduate music courses at the University of Alberta (Augustana), and is a K-6 music teacher in Wetaskiwin, AB. She holds certification in Kodály Levels I&II , an MEd (Elementary Music Education; UBC), BEd (Secondary Music Education; UBC), and BMus (Voice; UBC), and is currently completing her PhD (Education) at the University of Alberta under the supervision of Dr. David Lewkowich. Stephanie’s current research includes From the Voices of Children, under the supervision of Dr. Ardelle Ries, which investigates children’s singing identities and attitudes. Her doctoral research involves improvisational singing with children, ecoliterate music pedagogies, and collaborative research-creation. Stephanie is generously supported by the Killam Trusts as a recipient of the 2023 Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Ardelle Ries
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
A professor of music at the University of Alberta (UA) Augustana Faculty, Ardelle Ries was raised on the Alberta prairies surrounded by art, poetry, and music. A passionate advocate for singing, musical inclusion and multigenerational music education, she has been on faculty at the Zoltán Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy, the International Kodály Seminar, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Calgary. With funding from the UA and SSHRC she continues to study the child voice in social contexts. Ardelle serves on the boards of the Alberta Kodály Association and is an Honorary Member of the Kodály Society of Canada. A recipient of numerous community service awards, Ardelle is grateful to be recognized by Choir Alberta, the Alberta Kodály Association, the UA Augustana Faculty, the Alberta Council of Disability Services, the Association for Life-Wide Living, the Camrose Association for Community Living and the City of Camrose Arts Society.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Ellie Neufeld Pires
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Ellie Neufeld is a graduate from the University of Alberta Music program where she completed Bachelor of Music and Education degrees in the spring of 2013. Neufeld began her teaching career at Onoway Jr/Sr High School the following fall. While there, music programming expanded and the Onoway Bands achieved high ratings in provincial festivals. Neufeld was the recipient of the Keith Mann Young Band Director Award in 2017 which recognizes outstanding band directors with less than six years of experience, and the division recipient of the Edwin Parr Teacher Award in 2014, awarded to exceptional first year teachers in any subject. Between 2019 and 2021 she completed graduate studies in wind band conducting at Georgia State University earning the Master of Music degree and an Artist Certificate diploma. In 2022 Neufeld was selected to be a Reynolds Conducting Institute Fellow at the annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL. She currently serves as the Associate Band Director at Pace Academy in Atlanta, GA.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Graham Caddell
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Over the last 30+ years Graham has mixed over 10,000 shows all over the world with bands such as Captain Tractor and Adam Gregory. 12 years at The Sidetrack Cafe, 15 years at the Edmonton Folk Festival, as well as 15 years at On The Rocks. From 2010 - 2022. Graham also taught the Live Sound Reinforcement course at MacEwan University.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Hyejung Jun
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Hyejung Jun is Assistant Professor of Choral Conducting at the University of British Columbia, where she conducts the Choral Union, and teaches Choral Literature, Choral Conducting Techniques, and Private Lessons for graduate conducting students.
Dr. Jun has extensive experience as a singer, pianist, and conductor. Her performances have been recognized for their sensitivity and excellence. Before coming to the United States, she won the 2012 National Choral Conducting Competition in Seoul, South Korea. After moving to the United States, she was a finalist for the Graduate Conducting Competition in the American Choral Directors Association in 2017, and she also was the Conducting Fellow at the 2019 National Collegiate Choral Organization. In 2018, she was awarded the May Festival Conducting Fellowship with the internationally recognized May Festival Chorus in Cincinnati, OH under the mentorship of Robert Porco, Director of Choruses of the May Festival Chorus.
She earned her Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Emory University and completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Marguerite Wilder
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
The ultimate goal for beginning music students is the development of skills and understanding that enable the student to experience musical artistry. Marguerite Wilder's innovative, game-filled approach to teaching fundamentals help set students on a strong path toward success.
This technique helps teachers monitor individual progress while providing the students with a comprehensive, rigorous and creative learning experience that includes strong aural skills and improvisation techniques.
Wilder’s long tenure as a middle school band director has helped her work with educators on effective strategies to transfer young musicians from short method book songs and arrangements to full band arrangement experiences. She explores how daily routines start with warm-up and fundamental exercises that address the components of music that will be used in their music literature. Young musicians also need an understanding of how melody, rhythm, harmony and bass lines combine to produce music.
Music educators looking for ideas to incorporate into their beginning band classes have found great success implementing Wilder’s unique ideas and have discovered that her comprehensive approach has led to enhanced musical independence for students at an accelerated pace.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Zhenni Li-Cohen
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Hailed as “…an artist of tremendous conviction, who fascinates even as she provokes…“ by Gramophone Magazine, “…a thrillingly good pianist…” by The New Yorker and for her ""...big, gorgeous tone and a mesmerizing touch"" by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Zhenni has given solo recitals in such notable venues as Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Performing Arts Center, the Smithsonian Museum and the Berliner Philharmonie in Germany. Zhenni is looking forward to her next recording project with Marin Alsop in collaboration with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and has recently appeared as a soloist with ensembles such as the Bergen Philharmonic in Norway, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and the Knoxville, Fairbanks, Bucks County, Dominican Republic, Johns Hopkins and Lower Merion Symphony Orchestras amongst others. Deeply committed to the art of recording, Zhenni has recently released her album for the Steinway & Sons label featuring works by the Ukrainian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz (A letter), which was reviewed by Gramophone Magazine as “the most consistently beautiful Bortkiewicz recording in the catalogue” and “a mustadd to your listening list” by American Record Guide. She is currently an Associate Professor of Piano at University of Alberta and the co-founder and Artistic Director of Opus 71 Concerts, a multimedia concert series near New York’s Lincoln Center. Zhenni Li-Cohen is a Steinway Artist.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Taina Lorenz
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, this self-proclaimed “band geek” earned her PhD in Music Education and Cognition, and Wind Conducting from the University of Washington. Taina also holds a Master of Music in Wind Conducting and Music History and a Bachelor of Education in Music Education from the University of Alberta.
As Executive Director of the Cosmopolitan Music Society, Taina oversees all aspects of music performance and programming. She has introduced unique and innovative adult music education programs that include a levelled Beginner band program, modern and classic jazz ensembles, handbells, and multi-disciplinary collaborations.
With her personable manner, strong communication skills, and over 25 years of classroom experience teaching music from kindergarten to adult levels, Taina is a consummate educator. She consistently applies her skills and experience as music educator and brass player, and is a frequent clinician and guest conductor in Canada and the United States.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Tammy Jo Mortensen
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Karen Howard
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Karen Howard is Professor of Music and Director of Graduate Studies in Music Education at the University of St. Thomas. Karen is the author of multiple articles and books related to diversifying music education through dispositions, repertoire, and pedagogical practices. She is a frequent national and international clinician supporting music educators in their journeys toward developing equitable teaching and learning environments. Karen is also a faculty fellow with the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, she is the founder and editor of the World Music Initiative series through GIA Music (in which all musics are considered “world” music”), and is President Elect of MMEA. With more than 30 years of experience working with children of ALL ages, Karen is most at home in a room full of music educators.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
John Feierabend
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Dr. John Feierabend is considered one of the leading authorities on music and movement development in childhood. He is a Professor Emeritus of Music Education at The Hartt School of the University of Hartford and is a past President of the Organization of American Kodály Educators. He has given presentations in all 50 states and many other countries. He is the author of over 70 books, recordings, and DVDs, several of which served as the inspiration for the award winning PBS children’s television series Lomax: The Hound of Music.
Dr. Feierabend has been honored as a Lowell Mason Fellow by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME); named University Educator of the Year by the Connecticut Music Educators Association; received the outstanding alumni award from Wayne State University; received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Organization of American Kodály Educators, the James Bent Award for outstanding achievement in scholarship and creativity from the University of Hartford, and was the first U.S. recipient of the LEGO Prize, an international award given annually to “an individual who has made a distinctive contribution to the betterment of children.”
Dr. Feierabend continues to be committed to collecting, preserving and teaching the diverse folk music of our country and using that folk music as a bridge to help children understand and enjoy classical music. Dr. Feierabend’s creativity and research has resulted in two music methods; First Steps in Music, a music and movement program for infants through elementary-aged children and Conversational Solfege, a music literacy method suitable for elementary through college-aged student.
Dr. Feierabend’s teaching has provided thousands of teachers and their students with the materials and techniques to help build community through music by evoking enthusiastic participation of all people. To that end his approach strives for all people to become tuneful, beatful and artful through research based and developmentally appropriate pedagogies while promoting the use of quality literature. In the summer of 2012 a group of dedicated and like-minded educators honored Dr. Feierabend’s 40 plus years of teaching and research with the formation of the Feierabend Association for Music Education.
https://feierabendmusic.org/
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Matthew Arau
Session presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Dr. Matthew Arau, founder of Upbeat Global, author of the bestselling book, Upbeat! Mindset, Mindfulness, and Leadership in Music Education and Beyond, and Associate Professor of Music at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, believes in the power of gratitude and joy to make meaningful, transformative change from within. Dr. Arau has guest conducted, led professional development, and presented clinics on leadership, mindfulness, wellness, growth mindset, rehearsal techniques, and creating positive cultures in 38 states and 4 continents in person.
He has presented and/or keynoted at the International Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic several times, the Western International Band Clinic, the NAfME (National Association for Music Education) National Conference, and numerous State and Regional Music Education Association Conferences. In addition to being in demand as a keynote speaker, presenter, student leadership trainer, and professional development facilitator, Dr. Arau has conducted honor bands in Australia, Greece, Cyprus, and Malaysia, and All-State honor bands across the United States.
https://www.upbeatglobal.com
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Session presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Fred Mack
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Fred Mack is a band director, clinician, teacher and musician from Edmonton, Alberta. He is the Director of the Jazzworks Band Festival, which brings together schools from across Western Canada to participate in clinics and performances, and experience the Edmonton Jazz Orchestra live in concert. Fred has also worked as a clinician for band programs across Alberta for over 10 years. As a performer, he has spent time as a cruise ship musician on the Queen Elizabeth, and has also played in many ensembles across different genres. He holds a Bachelor’s of Education degree from the University of Alberta, and a Bachelor’s of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from MacEwan University, where he studied abroad in Helsinki, Finland. In Fred’s first year of teaching band, he took on the unique challenge of starting a band program from scratch on a First Nation reserve in northern Alberta.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Dean McNeill
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Dean McNeill has been contributing to the Canadian music scene in a variety of capacities for decades, as an award-winning musician/educator and arts administrator. Dean has been a Professor of Brass & Jazz for over 25 years at the University of Saskatchewan, 9 of which also serving as Head of the Music Department. Dean attended MacEwan University (M.dip.), McGill University (B.Mus.Jazz), and the University of North Texas (M.Mus.Jazz). He’s been the recipient of the UofS’s Dwaine Nelson Teaching Award & Student’s Union Teaching Excellence Award, the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival’s Special Recognition Award, the Saskatchewan Choral Federation’s Outstanding Administrator’s Award, and, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan). Dean is honored to have shared the stage with the likes of Jon Ballantyne, Tommy Banks, David Braid, Dee Daniels, Phil Dwyer, Hugh Fraser, Mark Fewer, Guy Few, Wycliffe Gordon, Kelly Jefferson, Ingrid Jensen, Michael Kaeshammer, Alastair Kay, Bob Mintzer, PJ Perry, Maria Schneider, Denzal Sinclaire, and Brad Turner. Dean was a member of the Saskatoon Symphony for 23 seasons and he is currently the A.D. of the Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra which is in the SJO’s 11th season. Dean has been involved in many interdisciplinary projects and CD music projects, most notably six USASK Jazz Ensemble ‘Bumper Crop’ CDs (as conductor), the Western Canadian Music Awards-nominated CDs The Saskatchewan Suite: The Story of Us (performer), The Complete Rebirth Of The Cool (performer), O Music (performer) which won a Western Canadian Music Award (classical composition of the year).
For more information visit: http://artsandscience.usask.ca/profile/DMcNeill#/profile
http://artsandscience.usask.ca/profile/DMcNeill#/profile
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Gabriella Minnes Brandes
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Gabriella Minnes Brandes, Ph.D., has been teaching the Alexander Technique for over 35 years. She maintains an active practice at the Alexander Technique Centre in Vancouver. She has run Alexander workshops for musicians, music educators, singers, horseback riders, and engineers (among others) as well as workshops for Alexander teachers. For over a decade she taught the Alexander Technique in the Theatre department at Capilano University. Gaby works extensively in collaboration with musicians, voice, movement and acting instructors.
Her research interests focus on connections between creativity, performance and the application of concepts of the Alexander Technique. Informed by her Ph.D. in education, Gaby is currently researching how people who practice both Alexander technique and Mindfulness-Based meditation approach stressful moments.
She currently serves as the elected Co-Chair of the Board Directors of Alexander Technique International (ATI). She is also a member of the Canadian Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique, the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (UK), he American Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique and the Professional Association of Alexander Teachers (UK).
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Marie-Claire Saindon
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Marie-Claire Saindon is a Franco-Ontarian composer based in Montréal. She is composer-in-residence for Chor Leoni (2024-2027) and for Chœur Adleisia, runs creative choral/vocal workshops, and enjoys teaching Irish fiddle. She currently writes choral, chamber, and orchestral commissions and creates film and multimedia scores. Her other collaborative experiences span from accompanying dancers to fiddling in a team of folk musicians on a historical steam train.
Recipient of multiple composition prizes (such as the SOCAN Young Composers' National Awards in the vocal category, 2013, and the Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Composition Competition, 2018), her choral works are published with Boosey & Hawkes, Cypress Choral Music, Hal Leonard Choral, Earthsongs Choral Music, and Alliance Music Publications. Her film scores can be found on documentaries hosted on CBC Gem and Radio-Canada.
Marie-Claire holds a BMus: Composition from the Schulich School of Music (McGill, 2007) and an MMus: Composition - Film and Multimedia music from Université de Montréal (2010).
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Tom Van Seters
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Well known as an accomplished performer/composer/educator on the Canadian jazz scene for over thirty years, pianist Tom Van Seters is Associate Professor of Music at MacEwan University in Edmonton. He has performed in a wide variety of settings from solo to symphony orchestra and collaborated with numerous renowned musicians. His original compositions have been featured on radio including the CBC, jazzfm91, and CKUA as well as at many venues and festivals across Canada. Listen to his latest album You And Your Smile (VSM records) on Spotify. Tom’s academic credentials include a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Performance from the University of Toronto. His dissertation focusses on parallels between piano and drumming performance practices in jazz. Courses he has taught include applied piano, accompanying, arranging, improvisation, jazz history, theory, ear training, and ensembles. He has also presented his research at Jazz Education Network conferences in
San Diego and New Orleans.
https://www.tomvanseters.ca
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Joel Plaag
Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
Dr. Joel Plaag is the choir director at Cypress Creek Christian Church in Spring, Texas. He conducts the Cypress Creek Community Chorale, two handbell choirs, a children’s choir, and the Chancel Choir. After rediscovering a love of writing, he authored I’m a Choir Director, Singing in the Moment, and most recently, Caring for Your Choir.
Dr. Plaag was choral director at multiple colleges in Texas and Arkansas while researching and publishing on conducting pedagogy. While teaching, he held positions as music director at First Christian Church of Grand Prairie, Texas; Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Houston, Texas; First Methodist Church of Brenham, Texas; and as quartet soloist at Temple Emanu-El of Livingston, New Jersey; and quartet soloist at Temple Emanu-El of Fort Worth, Texas. He founded the Batesville Choral Society and restarted the Brenham Chorale after a multi-decade hiatus. These days he also serves as cantor and pianist at Temple Israel in Schulenberg, Texas.
His major conducting professors include Professor Ronald Shirey, Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt, and Dr. Charles Hausmann. He continued his conducting studies in Romania with Maestro Ovidiu Bãlan, Maestro Robert Gutter and the Filarmonica “Mihail Jora” of Bacãu. Additionally, he studied organ with Dr. Linda Patterson and voice with Dr. Vincent Russo and Judith Gans.
Dr. Plaag holds degrees from Texas Christian University, Westminster Choir College, and the University of Houston, where his dissertation was on using Laban Movement Theory in teaching conducting. He currently lives in Spring with husband Michael and three dogs: Teddy, Freckles and Simon. On many weekends you can find him working in his yard, fixing something in the garage, or writing.
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Session Presenter
Music Conference Alberta
