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Oltman Presents Doctoral Research and Is Featured on ‘Making Connections’ Podcast

Associate Professor of Voice and Director of Choral Activities Matthew Oltman, D.M.A., was asked to give a presentation on Franz Biebl’s famous “Ave Maria” (the subject of his doctoral thesis) to members of the choral ensemble Vocal Polyphonia from Rosario, Argentina. With the necessity of moving their activities online, they opted to do in-depth research into their repertoire and to present virtual information sessions for their members.

He was also the featured guest on the “Making Connections” podcast co-hosted by Steve Grives and Iris Derke of Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY). They primarily discussed Oltman’s recent trip to Taiwan and the challenges of creating choral music in the time of COVID-19. Visit www.anchor.fm to listen to the podcast.

https://anchor.fm/steve-grives/episodes/Making-Connections–with-Matt-Oltman-ek5opp/a-a3bvrfe

Oltman has also been working with the cast of “La Bohème” in an upcoming collaboration with IN Series scheduled for release in December 2020.

Under the direction of Professor of Voice, Choral Conducting and Choral Music Karen Keating ’02, D.M.A., members of the Cantus Singers prepared curated playlists for targeted audiences based on their program of study: music education, music therapy or vocal performance.

The project, inspired by a similar assignment from Associate Professor of Voice, Conservatory Choir Director and Choral Artist Matt Oltman, D.M.A., challenged students to consider the choral arts from the perspective of programming, preparation and execution. Students were tasked with choosing a theme for their program, ensemble and repertoire, and then combining those elements into a document including program details, publisher information, costs, recordings, scores, program notes and more.

Associate Professor of Voice, Conservatory Choir Director and Choral Artist Matt Oltman, D.M.A., led the Virginia Region XI Honor Choir in a three-day festival that culminated in a performance at West Springfield High School on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Oltman also had his first article published in Grove Music Online (The Oxford Dictionary of Music). The article on the 20th century German composer Franz Biebl was based on the research he conducted for his doctoral thesis on the same subject. Visit doi.org/10.1093/omo/9781561592630.013.90000315374 to read the article.

On Saturday, Sept. 26, members of the Conservatory Choir, under the direction of Associate Professor of Voice, Conservatory Choir Director and Choral Artist Matt Oltman, D.M.A.; Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Education (Choral) Lee Wright, D.M.A.; and Director of the Janette Ogg Voice Research Center and Associate Professor of Voice (Baritone) and Vocal Pedagogy David Meyer, D.M., performed at the Ravenswood Faire, the Winchester-area’s first ever Renaissance fair. Singers braved the elements to sing favorite madrigals in front of an appreciative and eclectic crowd of noble ladies, knights, wild men and common folk.

Associate Professor of Voice, Conservatory Choir Director and Choral Artist Matt Oltman, D.M.A., conducted the 2019 Georgia All-State Senior Men’s Chorus in Athens, Georgia, from Feb. 14, through Feb. 16. This highly competitive ensemble comprised 225 of the best young singers from across the state. The repertoire highlighted pieces that focused on humanity’s equality and oneness. A piece commissioned by Oltman for New York City’s Empire City Men’s Chorus, John Conahan’s “One Song,” on a text by Rumi, was given its second-ever performance. Eugene Roger’s arrangement of “Glory” from the movie “Selma” featured R&B soloists and rappers who brought down the house. Additional works included Oltman’s edition of Antoine Brumel’s motet, “O Domine Jesu Christe,” Lee Hoiby’s “Last Letter Home,” Shawn Kirchner’s “Wana Baraka,” and Franz Biebl’s famous “Ave Maria.”

On Nov. 10, Associate Professor of Voice, Conservatory Choir Director and Choral Artist Matt Oltman, D.M.A., conducted 120 singers of the Texas Region 12 All-Region Choir. The region includes San Antonio and surrounding areas.

Shenandoah Conservatory has appointed Harris Ipock, M.M., as a visiting choral artist and Conservatory Choir director beginning August 2017.

“I’m delighted that Harris will be joining our conservatory to direct our wonderful Conservatory Choir and work with colleagues in further shaping our choral community,” said Shenandoah Conservatory Dean and Professor of Music Michael Stepniak, Ed.D. “Whether conducting at Harvard or Boston University, or singing in some of the finest choirs in the country, he has received broad accolades for exceptional artistry, highly collaborative work, and a demonstrated passion for mentoring student musicians.”

Ipock is currently the resident conductor of the Harvard Glee Club at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He previously served on the faculty of Boston University, where he conducted the Boston University Singers and the Symphonic Chorus and was the interim director of undergraduate choruses from fall 2016 through spring 2017. In addition to a full conducting schedule, Ipock remains active as a soloist and professional chorister, singing in some of the country’s leading choirs. As a member of Conspirare, led by Craig Hella Johnson, he served as a section leader on the Grammy Award-winning album “Sacred Spirit of Russia.” He has also performed regularly with Santa Fe Desert Chorale, led by Joshua Haberman, and has appeared with Yale Choral Artists, Publick Musick, Cambridge Concentus, La Donna Musicale, Voices, Vox Lumine, Virginia Chorale, Norfolk Chamber Consort, and North Carolina Symphony Baroque Choir. His credits as a soloist include “Dover Beach” (Victoria Bach Festival), “St. Matthew Passion” (Conspirare), Monteverdi’s “Vespers” (Cambridge Concentus), J.S. Bach’s “Magnificat” (Back Bay Chorale) and Haydn’s “Paukenmesse” (Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus). He recently served as choirmaster for Odyssey Opera’s debut performance of Wagner’s “Rienzi,” and is the male choir chair of the Massachusetts American Choral Directors Association.

“We are thrilled to welcome Harris to our community this year,” said Vocal/Choral Division Chair and Associate Professor of Voice (Tenor) Byron Jones, D.M.A. “I know our singers will benefit from the depth and breadth of the experience he brings to Shenandoah Conservatory. I look forward to watching (and hearing!) their development under his direction.”

“Harris Ipock’s recent tenure with the Harvard Glee Club, whether at home in Cambridge and in tours world-wide, has carried on an extraordinary tradition of excellence while constantly raising the profile and skill of this prestigious ensemble,” reflected outgoing director of the Shenandoah Conservatory Choir Scott Allen Jarrett, D.M.A. “The Shenandoah Conservatory Choir has long enjoyed such exceptional leadership, and I’m thrilled that Harris will guide the next chapter with these wonderfully talented students.”

Ipock is currently completing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. He received a Master of Music in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance from East Carolina University, in Greenville, North Carolina, and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has studied choral conducting with William Weinert, Daniel Bara and Susan Klebanow, and voice with Robert McIver, John Kramar and Stafford Wing.

Ipock’s appointment to this one-year visiting position precedes a fall search for a full-time career contract appointment for Conservatory Choir director, for which he will be enthusiastically invited to apply.

Learn more about Ipock at www.harrisipock.com.

Shenandoah University hosts its Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service of Remembrance on Monday, Jan. 20, at 3 p.m. in Goodson Chapel/Recital Hall on Shenandoah’s main campus. The university and surrounding  communities are encouraged to gather together to commemorate the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

This year’s celebration features the university’s Harambee Gospel Choir performing a riveting multi-media gospel presentation titled “Let Justice Roll.” Comprised of excerpts from Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” it follows the central statement taken from the Hebrew Bible, Amos 5:24, which states, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.”

The letter, written to leaders in faith communities, was a call to action asking them to speak publicly against segregation and the unjust enforcement of it. Dr. King urged these faith leaders that their followers must hear their support that had been offered privately, so that change could take place.

The event is a partnership between the Black Student Union, Harambee Gospel Choir, Office of Spiritual Life, and Office of Student Engagement for Intercultural Programs. The service is free and open to the public.

Visitors are welcome to park in the upper or lower lots adjacent to Goodson Chapel/Recital Hall for this event. There is also parking available in the parking garage next to the Brandt Student Center. Those who use wheelchairs for mobility may be dropped off in front of Goodson Chapel/Recital Hall at the accessible sidewalk.

All 3 p.m. classes are cancelled so that students may attend the service. Classes will resume at 4 p.m. 

For those unable to attend the service on the main campus, there will be a live stream available at the Health Professions Building in Room 109 and the Northern Virginia Campus in Room 133. To view from your own location, go to: 
http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/shenandoahadmin.portal