Adrian A. Durlester

MUSICAL RESUME

last updated 11/09/07

EDUCATION:

M.T.S., Hebrew Bible emphasis
Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, TN. May 2000

B.F.A., Theater Technology (management emphasis), School of Design & Production,
North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, NC. May 1977.

Graduate w/merit, Bronx HS of Science, Bronx, NY. May 1973

Pre-college division, Juilliard School of Music, New York, NY (1961-69)
Preparatory Division, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY (1969-73)
(At Juilliard & Manhattan: musical training in piano, theory, opera production, conducting)

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CURRENT EMPLOYMENT:

Director of Education & Congregational Life, Bethesda Jewish Congregation , Bethesda, MD (Since July 2003)
    Also Choir Director and accompanist
Editor, C.Ha, weekly Jewish E-zine, for Torah Aura Productions, Los Angeles, CA
Freelance Musician, accompanist, arranger, transcriber (see Other Musical Activities)
Co-Director, Shir Tze'ir Jewish Teen Choir of Alexandria
Teacher, Confirmation Class, Agudas Achim Congregation (USCJ), Alexandria, VA

Prior Employment (Recent):

Director, Shir Ami, Temple Beth Ami Adult Choir, Rockville, MD (Summer 2005 to Spring 2007)
Instructor, Intro to Judaism Course, URJ Mid-Atlantic Council, Northern VA class (Spring 2004, Winter  2005)
Director of Education, Beth El Hebrew Congregation, Alexandria, VA 22311 (July 2001-2003)
Music Educator (Grades K-6), Judaica/Hebrew Instructor (Grades 1 & 2), Akiva School (Jewish Day School), Nashville, TN
Music & Choir Director, Congregation Micah (Reform), Brentwood, TN
Editor, Bim Bam, weekly Jewish E-zine, for Torah Aura Productions, Los Angeles, CA (1997-2001, 2004/2005)
Independent Jewish Musician,  Nashville, TN (see Other Musical Activities)

Summer 2000:

Drama & Musical Theater Specialist, Gordon Jewish Community Center Camp, Nashville, TN

Summer 1999:

Specialist, Gordon Jewish Community Center Camp, Nashville, TN Supervised Musical Theater Camp, Community Service Camp, Circus Camp

Summer 1997 and 1998:

Media Coordinator, Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute Camp, Oconomowoc, WI. (Summer position.)

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Other Musical Activities

Washing DC Metro Area (2001-Present)
Arranger/Producer/Accompanist for GAN SHIRIM Songbook and CD by Carol Boyd Leon (KTAV)
Musical Entertainment Coordinator, Jewish Folk Arts Festival (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
Choir Director and Accompanist, Bethesda Jewish Congregation (2003-present)
Co-Director, Hazamir/Jewish Teen Arts Institute Choir of Greater Washington
Production Coordinator, 350 Years of Jewish Music concert at Strathmore Concert Hall, March 2005.
Accompanist, Broadway Review I & II, Temple Beth Ami, Rockville, MD and Agudas Achim, Alexandria, VA
Accompanist, Hazamir Jewish Teen Choral Festival, New York (2003, 2004, 2005)
Pianist for Kolot Shabbat at Beth El Hebrew Congregation (2001-present)
Pianist for Simcha B'Shabbat at Bethesda Jewish Congregation (2002-present)
Director/Accompanist, Shir Ami, Temple Beth Ami Adult Choir
Pianist with Hot Kugel Klezmer Band, Machaya Klezmer Band
Pianist/Accompanist/Soloist for Olam Tikvah Men's Club Dinner 2003
Pianist for Adat Reyim Purim Shpiel 2003
Pianist/Accompanist for NovaShir Northern Virgina Jewish Choral Festival (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
Arranger,  new George Mason University Alma Mater by Carol Boyd Leon
Choral Arranger, "Shehecheyanu" and "Sea Chanty" by Carol Boyd Leon
Keyboard, "Jewish Holiday Rap" on the CD "Find the Sunshine" by Shir Synergy
Freelance Pianist, Accompanist

Nashville: (1998-2001)
Pianist for West End Synagogue 125th Anniversary Program (Spring 1999)
Pianist for "Salute to Irving Berlin" at Congregation Micah (Spring 1999)
Pianist for West End Synagogue Sanctuary Rededication (December 1999)
Musician for JCC Program "Salute to the Yiddish Theatre" (December 1998)
Recorded Jewish cantorial works with artist Judy Caplan Ginsburgh (May 1999)
Performed with and recorded two albums of original Jewish music with  artist Karen Daniel.

CAJE Conference (for Jewish Educators): (1995-present)
Accompanist for Jewish artists Debbie Friedman, Fran Avni, Sam Glaser, Judy Caplan Ginsburgh at CAJE (1997-2006)
Accompanist for Cantor's Chorale at CAJE (1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

Fargo, ND: (1988-1998)
Accompanist for North Dakota State University choirs, music & choral student recitals.
Pianist for Fargo Moorhead Civic Theatre productions
Musical Director, Temple Beth El

Elkhart, IN: (1980-1988)
Accompanist for Concord Community Schools bands, orchestra, choir and music students.
Musical Direction for Concord Community Theatre
Musical Direction for Elkhart Civic Theatre

Mobile, AL; New Orleans, LA; Clearwater, FL.(1977-1980)
Manager/Pianist, New Dixie Zing Kings Dixieland Band. Mobile, AL; New Orleans, LA; Clearwater, FL.

OTHER PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT (partial history):

(9/88-5/98) Production Manager, Festival Concert Hall
North Dakota State University, Fargo. Performing arts facilities administration and operations including management, artistic, technical, front-of-house services, booking and scheduling, contracting, negotiation, budgeting, policy development, personnel. Also worked concurrently as a freelance lighting, scenic, and audio designer and consultant.

6/97-9/97 Media Coordinator, Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute Camp, Oconomowoc, WI. (Summer position on leave.)

3/88-9/88 Production Manager, Elkhart Civic Theater, Elkhart, IN

9/81-3/88 Resident Stage Manager/Technical Coordinator, Beickman Performing Arts Center, Concord Schools, Elkhart, IN. Operation and technical supervision of performing arts facility. Concurrently produced a summer community theatre program for the School system, and worked freelance as a lighting, scenic, and audio designer and consultant.

9/84-3/88 Co-Producer, Concord Community Theatre, Elkhart, IN.

1/81-4/81 Lighting Director, Golden Apple Dinner Theater, St. Petersburg, FL

6/77-9/81 Manager/Performer, New Dixie Zing Kings Dixieland Show Band, Clearwater FL; New Orleans, LA; Mobile, AL

9/73-5/77 Student, North Carolina School of the Arts

5/76-9/76 Stage Manager, Live Shows Dept., Kings Dominion, Doswell, VA

1/76-5/76 Stage Manager, Education Department, City Center of Music & Drama/NYC Opera/NYC Ballet, New York, NY.

9/69-5/75 Assistant Stage Manager and Production Assistant, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY. Preparatory Opera program and college division John Brownlee Opera Theater.

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SKILLS:

Musical Direction& Conducting; Keyboard Performance & Accompanying; Jewish Music Performance; Stage Direction; Facilities & Production Management, Stage Management, Technical Direction; Design & Execution of Lighting/Scenery/Audio;  Theater Administration/Producing. Jewish Education (formal and informal). Computer skills: Dos/Windows and Mac Systems-advanced user with maintenance, installation and network experience. Experienced user of Media 100 digital video editing system.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

(1974-1998) United States Institute for Theatre Technology (former Vice Commissioner for Communications for the Theatre & Production Management Commission, 1995-1998.)
Guild of Temple Musicians.
Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education.
National Association of Temple Educators (NATE)

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

Nashville Gordon JCC Cultural Arts Committee
Vanderbilt Divinity School Worship Committee
Keyboardist; Member, Board of Directors, Temple Beth El (UAHC), Fargo, ND. Served as Director of Religious Education (95-97)
Served on Boards of Directors of Elkhart Civic Theatre & Elkhart Concert Club, Elkhart, IN. 
Technical advisor to North Dakota Centennial Kickoff Celebration. 
Volunteer technical support to International Summer Special Olympics, South Bend, IN, 1987.

ELECTRONIC MAIL CONTACT: adrian@durlester.com
 

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References and Artistic Staff Contacts on Request
JUDAIC RESUME
THEATRICAL RESUME

This Page Last Updated 11/09/07