Elliot Jones holds a Bachelor of Music degree from New York University and a Master of Music from Indiana University. He has studied singing with Roy Samuelsen, Marcia Baldwin, Alan Seale, and Shirlee Emmons; choral conducting with Bruce Chamberlain, Jan Harrington and Donald Nally.
Mr. Jones, a lyric baritone, has appeared in leading and supporting roles with OperaDelaware, Indiana Opera Theater, the New Federal Theater, and at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. He has performed as a soloist in oratorio with the St. Lukes Chamber Orchestra in New York, at the National Cathedral in Washington and at Exeter Cathedral in England. In 1994 he sang the role of "King Melchior" in a national tour of AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS.
For several years Mr. Jones was Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Music at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. There, in addition to conducting the college choir, chamber choir and women's choir, he taught voice lessons and courses in music theory and music appreciation, and served as chair of the faculty lecture and cultural arts committee. He has served on the voice faculties of West Chester University, The Wilmington Music School, and Saint Andrew's School. In 1996 he was selected for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Intern Program at Ohio State University.
In 1999 Mr. Jones conducted the Wesley College Chamber Choir in a service of evensong at The National Cathedral in Washington DC, and became the founding Artistic Director of The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware. In June 2004 he conducted the East-Coast premiere of Jake Heggie's ANNA MADRIGAL REMEMBERS (text by Armistead Maupin), scored for mezzo soprano, men's chorus, strings and piano. This was followed by a repeat performance at the GALA VII Festival in Montreal in July.
Elliot Jones was awarded a fellowship for the DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) program in choral conducting at the University of Arizona where he also is the chorusmaster for the UA Opera and will be completing coursework by December, 2009. His dissertation topic, "Welcome Sweet and Sacred Feast: Choral Settings of Metaphysical Poetry by Gerald Finzi," has been approved by the graduate committee, so look for an announcement soon about the Lecture Recital to be held Fall 2009!
Fall 2008 events: UA Recital Choir, Elliot Jones, conductor - works of Clemens non Papa and Orlando Gibbons with countertenor Herbert Washington SEPT 21 at 7:30 in Crowder Hall. UA Opera Theater's production of Offenbach's "La Perichole" (Elliot Jones, chorusmaster) Nov. 20-23.
FALL 2007 EVENTS: UA Opera Theater's "L'amico Fritz" (Elliot Jones, chorusmaster) NOV 15-18. UA University Singers concert: works of Handel, Haydn and William Dawson NOV 20.
WHAT CLASSICAL MUSIC EXPERTS ARE SAYING ABOUT ELLIOT JONES:
"Impressive conducting. A nice gentleness; nicely contained, everything so definite - Talent!"
- Weston Noble, Luther College
"Adventurous programming [and] charismatic, energetic conducting...solidly based in breath"
- Dr. Donald Nally, chorusmaster, Lyric Opera of Chicago
"Beautiful work: clear, precise and direct"
- Dr. James Jordan, Westminster Choir College
"A person 'born to the task' when it comes to music. His rich understanding of music, coupled with his infectious enthusiasm for it, drove him to raise the level and improve the reputation of the Wesley College music department."
-Dr. Ralph Leitner, former Dean, Wesley College
"...musical director 'par excellance'! He shows real musical insight in his deft handling of the score. His energy pervades the production."
- Dr. John Gilbert, New York University
"excellent musical diction; a polished performance"
- Fred Silver, author of "Auditioning for the Musical Theater"
Links to other sites on the Web
Wesley College homepage
ACDA homepage
The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware
TIS vocal music website
NATS homepage
The University of Arizona School of Music
Elliot Jones has enjoyed an unusually rich education in the vocal arts, having been exposed to the teaching of such vocal pedagogy luminaries as Margaret Harshaw, Giorgio Tozzi, Virginia Zeani, Shirlee Emmons, and Paul Sperry. He brings this experience to his students, as well as elements of Alexander Technique and Dalcroze Eurythmics. Students of Mr. Jones regularly win prestigious vocal competitions, are accepted to All-State and All-Eastern Choruses, and appear with such performing arts organizations as the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and OperaDelaware.
2006-2007 SEASON PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS:
The Wesley College Choir: Works of Josquin DesPrez, C. V. Stanford, Michael Head and William Dawson: December 3 at 5pm Wesley College Chapel; Works of Josquin DesPrez, S. S. Wesley, Randall Thompson and William Dawson: Thursday March 22 at the Schwartz Center for the Arts, Dover, DE
Wesley College Faculty Performing Arts Series at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, Dover: The Tononi String Quartet: February 1 at 7:30 pm. Disella Larusdottir, soprano: Thursday February 22 at 7:30pm.
Faculty Recital at the Wilmington Music School: Friday, May 5 at 8pm: Arias from GIULIO CESARE (Handel) with the Serafin String Quartet and Karen McCommon, French Horn.
The Rainbow Chorale of Delaware holiday concert: "NATALIS," featuring music of Gerald Finzi with string orchestra December 16 and 17 at First and Central Church, Wilmington. "A DISNEY CABARET" at the Opera Delaware studios March 16 and 17 at 8pm; Concert "WHY WE SING", featuring music by Norman Dello Joio, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Paulus, June 9 at 8pm at First and Central Church.
STUDENT PERFORMANCES: David Anderson in Opera Delaware's GONDOLIERS Feb 15-17, 2008; Jen McClellan in Opera Delaware's production of CARMEN October 2006 and in their "Viva la Diva" benefit concert on May 12 at the Grand Opera House, Wilmington. Ann Morris with the "Rhythm Doctors" at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City October 22; Vessa Fulton in FINIAN'S RAINBOW at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia September-October. CONGRATULATIONS to Kelly Curtin, winner of the University of Delaware concerto competition, 2006; Zach Tice and Ben Warheit, ALL-STATE CHOIR, 2004; David Anderson, Kelly Curtin, Amber Taylor, and Ben Warheit, finalists at the NATS Eastern Region Student Auditions, April 2003; Kelly Curtin, ALL-EASTERN CHOIR, January 2003; Andrew Mason, first place winner in the musical theater category of the Delaware Valley NATS Competition, February, 2002.
REACH ELLIOT JONES at:
elliotj@email.arizona.edu
(302)598-9284