Navigation Menu
Top Contact Info Send an Email Objectives	Musical Experience Work Experience Education Skills

 

Contact Information

610 Kennebec Avenue #202 Takoma Park, MD  20912

Phone:  (301) 588-3077 Email:  mjplant@yahoo.com

 

 

Objectives

~     To work with an arts organization, where I can utilize and enhance my musical ability and experience, and learn more about the workings of the arts in America.

~     To pursue my conducting career though all available educational and performing opportunities.

~     To become a better musician through the pursuit of any and all opportunities, in the United States or abroad, to conduct orchestras, choruses and chamber ensembles, work with composers, music direct stage works, coach singers, teach students, and perform as a trombonist and a vocalist.

~     To broaden my horizons as an artist by learning new instruments and techniques, exploring various world musical cultures, and continuing my education in languages, literature, history, politics, religion and culture.

Back to Menu

 

Musical Experience

~     Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle, Washington, DC

~  Chorister (bass) - Member of the Schola Cantorum; 2000-present

~     The Cathedral is the Seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, and the home Cathedral of Archbishop Theodore Cardinal McCarrick.

~     The Schola Cantorum provides music for regular weekly masses in Latin and English, (and performs in other languages as repertoire or occasion requires); for Holy Day worship; and for special events, such as Ordinations and the annual Red Mass to bless the opening of the U.S. Supreme Court's session.  It also presents several concerts each year.

~     Supervisors:

(Note: reported dirctly to all those named as "Supervisor)

~     William Culverhouse, Director of the Schola Cantorum

~     Jennifer Muller , Cantor and Coordinator of Music Ministries

~     Rev. Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson, Rector of the Cathedral

~     Guest Musician; c. 1995-2000

~     Performed as trombonist in orchestral concerts and theatrical productions.

~     Supervisor: Dr. Peter Dabrowski, Director of Music Program

~     Assistant Conductor, 1998-1999

~     The Mighty Special Music Makers provide music making-including performing-opportunities to adults with and without cognitive and physical disabilities.

~     Supervisor: Paula Silvert Moore, Founder and Director

~     Assistant Conductor; 1997

~     Prepared the Chorus and performed supplemental conducting duties for production of Sullivan's The Yeomen of the Guard

~     Guest Conductor; 1995

~     The Richmond Philharmonic is a volunteer community orchestra that presents 4 to 5 full concerts each year at Virginia Commonwealth University and various venues around the city.

~     Prepared and conducted a subscription concert, as a candidate for the position of Music Director.

~     Music Director (designate); 1996

~     Selected as Music Director by search committee after audition and interviews.

~     Resigned due to illness.

~     Music Director; 1994-1996

~     Oversaw all musical preparations and conducted performances for 3 productions:  Lehar's The Merry Widow, and Sullivan's The Gondoliers and HMS Pinafore.

~     Supervisor: Diana Fortuna, President/Producer

~     Choir Director/Minister of Music; 1994-1996

~     Prepared and conducted the Chancel Choir for regular weekly services and special events; performed occasionally as vocal soloist and trombonist; oversaw music program and scheduling; purchased materials; sat on Worship Committee.

~     Supervisor: Rev. Jeffrey Jones, Pastor

~     Prepared and conducted the Chancel Choir for regular weekly services and special events; performed occasionally as vocal soloist and trombonist; oversaw music program and scheduling; sat on Worship Committee.

~     Supervisor: Rev. Beth O'Malley, Pastor

~     Personnel Manager; 1993-1994

~     Acted as Music Librarian; helped coordinate arrangements and transportation for guest musicians; some logistical and liaison work for rehearsal and performance venues.

~     Supervisor:  Jeanette Sorrel, Founder and Music Director

~     Choir Director/Minister of Music; 1991-1993

~     Prepared and conducted the Choir for regular weekly services and special events; performed occasionally as vocal soloist; oversaw music program and scheduling.

~     Supervisor:  Rev. Leah Matthews, Pastor

~     Assistant Conductor; 1992-1993

~     Assisted in conducting duties for rehearsals and performances; coached various Orchestra sections; acted as Music Librarian; performed occasionally as trombonist.

~     Supervisor: Peter Takacs, Music Director

Musical Experience Top

Back to Menu

Work Experience

~     Olsson's Books & Records, Washington, DC/Bethesda, MD/Rockville, MD

~     1994-2002

~      Assistant Buyer (Classical); Rockville Music Buying Office; 1999-2002

~     Responsibilities included stock purchasing and distribution for entire chain, data entry, database management, mailings, customer service, advertising sales (c. $3000-5000 per year), assisting in coordination of onsite events with artists such as Charlotte Church, and writing promotional copy, including:  ads in the Washington Post, Washington City Paper, Washington Blade; e-mail lists; company website (link above); instore promotions; and holiday catalogs (writing samples available on request).

~     Supervisor: Brooke Higdon, General Manager for Music

~     Sales Clerk and Cashier, Bethesda store; 1994-1999

~     Responsibilities included customer service, merchandising, writing of promotional copy, cashier duties, and general store maintenance.

~     Supervisor: Eliot Sternfeld, Music Department and Store Manager

~     Circulation Assistant; 1995-1996

~     Responsibilities included customer service, shelving, filing, material distribution, data entry, and database management.

~     Supervisor: Celeste Feather, Circulation Librarian

~     Server/Host; 1993-1994

~     Supervisor: Lamar McLendon, Manager

~     Building Monitor; 1989-1991

~     Responsibilities included scheduling, security and some maintenance for entire three-building complex.

Work Experience Top

Back to Menu

Education

~     Degrees Received (Oberlin College, 1993):

~     Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance

~     Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting

~     1988-1993

~     GPA=3.66/4.0

~     Conducting Studies with Robert Spano and Peter Jaffe

~     Additional conducting studies with Bridget-Michaele Reischl, Robert Ponto, Dr. Edward Maclary, Timothy Weiss, and Daniel Moe.

~     Rehearsed and performed regularly with major ensembles of the Conservatory.

~     Served as Assistant Conductor (to Messrs. Spano and Jaffe) and Chorus Master for the Oberlin Opera Theater on productions including Debussy's Pelleas et Melisande, Mozart's Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute), Thomas Pasatieri's The Seagull, and Puccini's La Boheme.

~     Trombone studies with Raymond E. Premru

~     Five years applied study

~     Prepared and presented two full-length solo recitals.

~     Performed with major ensembles of the Conservatory.

~     Conducting Seminar; 1992

~     Conducting studies with Murry Sidlin, Lawrence Foster and Peter Jaffe

~     Regular coachings and rehearsals with specially constituted ensembles

~     Classes and seminars in score preparation, rehearsal technique and other conducting issues

~     Organized, rehearsed and presented independent performances of Copland's Appalachian Spring and Crumb's Ancient Voices of Children.

~     Orchestral Studies Program; 1990

~     Trombone studies with Per Brevig

~     Performances with various Festival and student ensembles

~     Conductors Workshop; 1995 

*note: Program name has since been changed to "Conductors Workshop of America."

~     Conducting studies with Dr. William LaRue Jones,  Dr. Marvin J. Rabin and Dr. Jere Lantz

~     Rehearsals and coachings with orchestra and soloists

~     1985-1988

~     Regents Diploma with Honors

~     Graduated ranked 14^th in class of 300+.

~ Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)
~ HTML/Web Design

~ Basic fluency with HTML "tags" and editing
~ Some experience with Macromedia DreamWeaver and Fireworks (Mac versions), Bare Bones' BBEdit Lite, and BBTidy (freeware)

~ Browsers: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape
~ Quicken
~ Other programs: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Works, Microsoft Works, QuickTime, WordPerfect, FaxStf, PhoneTools
~ Custom/In-house (DOS-based) programs:

~ Gulliver (Library-Management System for Georgetown University Law Library)
~ Byron (Comprehensive system by the Wallace-Haines Company for Olsson's Books & Records)

~ Typing:

~ approximately 55 words per minute

~ Languages:

~ Reading knowledge of French and German
~ Some Italian