JOHANN VAN NIEKERK CONDUCTOR CURRICULUM VITAE

7518 43th Ave NE Seattle, WA, 98105 Phone: (215) 868 6423 email: [email protected]

EDUCATION

University of Washington, Seattle, WA: Doctorate of Musical Arts – 2011- present Primary Mentors: Geoffrey Boers & Giselle Wyers Expected Graduation: June 2014

Temple University, Philadelphia, PA: Master of Music in Conducting, 2011 Primary Mentors: Rollo Dilworth & Alan Harler

University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria, South Africa: Postgraduate Licentiate in Piano Performance, 2009

University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa: Bachelor of Music in Piano, 2008 Hons. Dissertation: The Role and Purpose of Organised Music at Auschwitz. Study Leader: Christopher Walton Mini-thesis: Rest Eternal – An Investigation of the Context of Five Requiems. Primary Mentor: Johann van der Sandt

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA, TACOMA, WA PART-TIME LECTURER & PRE-DOCTORAL TEACHING ASSOCIATE September 2012-present Co-designed and implemented new music program at University of Washington’s Tacoma campus. Duties include conducting the newly-formed World Voices and lecturing in music theory, music appreciation and analysis to a diversified group of students with varying backgrounds in music. Topics for the newly formed Music in Culture course include Social Justice in Music (Fall 2012), World Music (Winter 2013) and Pop Music (Spring 2013).

RAINIER BEACH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SEATTLE, WA. Director of Music, October 2011-present Conduct the church choir and collaborate with the youth programs in a culturally diverse congregation. Emphasis of program on inclusivity, communal singing, congregational participation and multiculturalism.

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DRAKENSBERG BOYS’ CHOIR SCHOOL, WINTERTON, SOUTH AFRICA Regular Student Intern and Conductor, 2009-present Serve as intern during American summers, assist with rehearsals and conducting and teach theoretic and practical musical instruction, piano and voice at boy choir school, consisting of around 100 boys, ages 10 to 16 that are chosen from nationwide auditions. The choir tours abroad two to four times a year, and has shared the stage with several prominent boy choirs around the world, including the Vienna Boys Choir, Pacific Boychoir and the Keystone State Boychoir and have performed at multiple ACDA National Conferences.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA, TACOMA, WA Part-Time Lecturer & Pre-Doctoral Teaching Associate, 2012-present Currently employed as part-time lecturer and pre-doctoral teaching associate. Please refer to Page 1.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SEATTLE, WA Guest Lecturer – Jackson School of International Studies, 2012-present Guest lecturer in courses on Scandinavian and Baltic Cultural History.

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, PHILADELPHIA, PA Graduate Assistant and Lab Lecturer, 2009-2011 Independently taught lab sessions for undergraduate basic, intermediate and advanced choral conducting for group of 200+ students.

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA, PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA Guest Lecturer in Choral Conducting, 2008 Regular guest lecturer in choral conducting at the third-year undergraduate level.

DRAKENSBERG BOYS’ CHOIR SCHOOL, SOUTH AFRICA Intern, 2009-present Taught classes in conducting, theory, aural training, sight singing, voice, piano, arts and culture, administration and music appreciation.

CLINICIAN EXPERIENCE:

Seattle Pacific University Men’s Chorus, Seattle, WA, Visiting Artist, 2012. Served as clinician, research assistant and advisor for authentic performance practice of African choral music.

Temple University Youth Choir Workshop, Philadelphia, PA, 2011, Clinician Presented clinics with Chicago Children’s Choir, New Jersey Youth Choir and Keystone State Boychoir on the authentic performance practice of African choral music.

2 Northern Cape Galeshewe Choral Institute and Community Upliftment Project (NCGCICUP), Kimberley, South Africa, Clinican and Lecturer, 2011 Led clinics with underprivileged community choirs. Also presented lectures in music theory, sight-reading and sight-singing, music history- and appreciation as part of international panel of choral conductors from South Africa, the United States and Canada, hosted by the University of Alberta.

CONDUCTING EXPERIENCE:

KAMERTONIS, SEATTLE, WA Conductor, 2013 Founded project-based ensemble “Kamertonis”, specializing in performance of socio- political choral music with added emphasis on high-quality performances of Baltic Choral Repertoire. Performed Arvo Pärt’s Salve Regina at premiere concert in October 2013.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SEATTLE, WA Chamber Singers, Assistant Conductor, 2012-13 Regularly led rehearsals and warm-ups for the university’s premier graduate ensemble consisting of 40 graduate and undergraduate singers, most of whom are voice majors. This group was one of two non-Latvian ensembles to be invited to participate in the 15th Latvian Song Festival as part of a massed choir of 16 thousand Latvian singers.

Recital Chorus, Conductor, 2012 Conducted semi-auditioned group of students and community volunteers. Repertoire included J.S. Bach’s cantata Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern with Baroque orchestra, Mendelssohn’s oratorio fragments Christus, Pärt’s Solfeggio and American premiere of Pieter Bezuidenhout’s Stardance.

Conductor’s Ensemble, Conductor, Spring 2013 Conducted small ensemble consisting of fellow graduate students in conducting. Comissioned and conducted American premiere of Pieter Bezuidenhout’s Skemer.

University Singers, Conductor, 2011-12, 2014 Conduct University Singers, a non-auditioned choir with typical course registration of between 70 and 150 registered students (approximately 9/10 non-music majors).

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, PHILADELPHIA, PA Graduate Conductor’s Chorus and Orchestra, Conductor: 2010 Conducted J.S. Bach’s motet BWV 227 Jesu, meine Freude and Mendelssohn’s Jesu, meine Zuversicht with chorus and baroque orchestra. Also conducted Philadelphia premiere of Latvian composer Peteris Vasks’ Dona Nobis Pacem for mixed choir and strings.

3 Recital Chorus, Conductor, 2011 Conducted volunteer group of around 40 singers, consisting of mostly non-music- majors and community volunteers. Conducted American premiere of Niel van der Watt’s Missa Meridiana de Terra for mixed chorus and marimba. Also conducted music from Ola Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass.

Women’s Chorus, 2011 Conducted semi-auditioned group of around 25 singers, consisting of freshmen only. Conducted American premiere of Mokale Koapeng’s Khutso – Chant for Peace.

Chorale, Graduate Teaching Assistant, 2010 Conducted undergraduate group of around 100 singers, consisting of freshmen and sophomore majors. Developed recital concept of “music in motion” combining choral singing, kinesthetic movement and dance.

University Singers, Graduate Teaching Assistant, 2009 Conducted university’s premiere undergraduate ensemble consisting of around 60 junior and senior year music majors.

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA, PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

Tuks Camerata, Student Conductor, 2007-8; Student Committee – Portfolio International and National Tours, Music & Archive, 2008. Conducted university’s premiere choir consisting of around 55 singers of which around 6 were music majors. Duties included rehearsals and conducting. First Prize Winners of International Choral Festival in Gorizia, Italy, in Popular and Jazz Category. The choir holds the distinction for the highest percentage obtained in the history of the European Grand Prix Choral Circuit (98.8%). During this period the choir toured to Austria, France, Germany, Kenya, Italy, Lichtenstein, Switzerland and Tanzania. Also responsible for organization of large-scale national tours for visiting international ensembles.

Sine Nomine Chamber Choir and Orchestra, Conductor, 2007-2008 Established academic choir and string ensemble for the purpose of undergraduate conducting recitals, specializing in Classical and Romantic choral-orchestral music. Performances included Haydn’s Little Organ Mass, Mozart Mass in G, KV 49 and Schubert’s Mass in G.

CONDUCTING EXPERIENCE: NON-UNIVERSITY

Christchurch, Philadelphia, PA, Choral Scholar, 2010-2011 Conducted church choir consisting of 12 paid singers. Duties included assisting with rehearsals and conducting during service and regular performances for visiting tourists to this historic landmark (250 thousand visitors per year). Repertoire included Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, Pachelbel’s Magnificat and Brahms’ Gesang.

4 St. Luke and the Epiphany, Philadelphia, PA, Student Conductor, 2009-2010 Conducted church choir consisting of around 25 singers. Duties included assisting with rehearsals and conducting during services.

Singkronies Adult Chamber Choir, Pretoria, Student Conductor, 2007-2008 Duties included teaching voice and leading rehearsals. Performed South African premiere of Arvo Pärt’s Te Deum for choir, orchestra and electronic tape. Waterkloof High School Ladies Choir, Pretoria, Conductor, 2009 Established the ladies’ choir of around 100 singers. Category Winners at national ATKV Applous competition in the same year.

Waterkloof High School Mixed Choir, Pretoria, Student Conductor, 2006-2008 Duties included voice teaching and conducting rehearsals. Champions at National ATKV Applous competition in 2006 and 2008 and runners-up in 2007; Gold diploma winners in 2008 Festival of Advent and Christmas Music in Bratislava, Slovakia.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Mägi Ensemble, Seattle, WA, Volunteer Singer, 2012-present Member of active vocal ensemble in the Seattle Baltic community. The group specializes in the works of contemporary Baltic composers.

Seattle Estonian “Eesti” Choir, Seattle, WA, Volunteer Singer, 2012-present Volunteer singer for Seattle’s premier Estonian choir consisting of around of around 16 singers. The choir regularly performs at events within the Seattle Baltic community calendar and recently qualified for participation in the 24th Estonian National Song Festival in July 2014 where they will perform as part of a massed choir of 18 thousand singers.

Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale, Seattle, WA, founder member and paid Section Leader, 2011-12 Founder member of chamber group of 16 Seattle singers specializing in sacred a cappella repertoire. Duties included leading warm-ups and rehearsals and sectionals.

Chorosynthesis Singers, Seattle, WA, Founder Member, 2011 Founder member of innovative community group focused on the concept of choir- community relevance. Performed the Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem in St. Luke’s Cathedral in Seattle, November 2011.

EXPERIENCE AS REPETITEUR

VGL (Video Games Live), Philadelphia, PA & New York City, NY, 2009-10 Prepared choir of combined singers from Westminster Choir College and Temple University for performance in VGL performances in Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center and Manhattan’s Beacon Theater on upper Broadway in 2009-10 for 6000+ combined

5 audience. Music featured include film and computer music as well as music based in the classical Latin idiom.

University of Pretoria Concert Choir, 2007-8 Served as repetiteur and student conductor in 2007-8 for Orff’s Carmina Burana and Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang with combined University of Pretoria choirs of 200 singers and University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra.

6 RESEARCH:

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SEATTLE, WA Main Research Areas & Documents: 1. Gender and Social Justice in Contemporary Settings of the Passion.* 2. Establishing a Pedagogy for the Teaching of Socio-Political Multicultural Choral Music 3. Performing and Understanding Baltic Choral Music * dissertation topic Advisor: Giselle Wyers

UW Baltic Choral Library, Seattle, WA, Research Assistant, 2011-present Duties include research and compilation of a database of Baltic composers that are featured in the holdings of the unique University of Washington Baltic Choral Library.

Presentations:

College Music Society Symposium, Seattle, WA, 2013 “Strategies for Teaching Socio-Political Multicultural Choral Music” Seattle Baltic Studies Colloquium, Seattle, WA, 2012 “The Long Road: From Baltic Contexts to English Tongues” Latvian Independence Day Lecture Recital, Seattle, WA, 2012 “The Castle of Light: The Latvian Choral Composition Gaismaspils and its Implications for Latvian Social Identity” Advanced Choral Techniques, Presenter, 2012 “Authentic African: African Choral Music by American Publishers”

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, PHILADELPHIA, PA Guest Lecturer, Choral Repertoire (50 min. lectures), 2009-2011 “Frozen Time: Understanding Ligeti’s Lux Aeterna and Requiem’ “Remember the Words of your Psalmist David: The Psalm Settings of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy” “Janaček’s Glagolitic Mass: An Exploration” “The Council of Trent and the Myth of Palestrina” “Expressing Grief in the Baroque Period: The Descending Tetrachord or Basso Lamento in Choral Works of Monteverdi and Bach”

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA Documents, 2008 Dissertation B. Mus. The Role and Purpose of Organised Music in Auschwitz. Study Leader: Christopher Walton, MA (Oxford), MA (Cambridge), DPhil (Oxford) Mini-thesis B.Mus. ‘Rest Eternal’ – An Investigation of the Contexts of Five Requiems. Study Leader: Johann van der Sandt, M. Mus (University of Pretoria), Dipl. (Instituut Dirigenten Educatie Gorinchem, Netherlands), D. Mus (University of Pretoria)

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PRETORIA STATE LIBRARY Research Assistant, Dr. Clorinda Panebianco Warrens, 2007-2008 Black Music during Apartheid as reported by the Independent Magazine ‘Drum.’ Classical Music in Performance in the Early Cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria before, during and after the Anglo-Boer War, as reported in the Newspaper ‘The Star’ 1889-1902.

AFRICAN MINDS JOURNAL Published Chapter, 2008 Career Choice – The Voices of Music Students. Eds. T. Arnott & L. Saunders. Pretoria: AM.

COGNATE RESEARCH AREA: SOCIO-POLITICAL MULTICULTURAL CHORAL MUSIC

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SEATTLE, WA The Baltic Singing Revolution, 2011-present Taking language courses in Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian and acquiring proficiency in all three in order to understand context of music sung during the Baltic Singing Revolution. Taking graduate-level academic history-based courses on Baltic history and the Singing Revolution. Present regularly at Seattle Baltic Studies Colloquium, participated in the 2012 Baltic Summer Languages Institute hosted by the University of Pittsburgh in the summer of 2012 and embarked on extensive performance and research trip to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the summer of 2013. Advisor: Guntis Smidchens

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, PHILADELPHIA, PA African-American Spirituals and Music of the Civil Rights Movement, 2009-2011 2-year individual graduate-level study of history and analysis of African-American Spirituals and the Music of the Civil Rights Movement. Participation in 2010 Chorus America Conference track on African-American spirituals in Atlanta, GA. Advisor: Rollo Dilworth

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA Totalitarian Music 2-year specialization in music made under totalitarian regimes. Specific emphasis on the music of Apartheid South Africa, Soviet Russia and Nazi-Germany. Advisor: Christopher Walton

8 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

HONORS University of Washington Pre-Doctoral Teaching Associate, 2012-present Rotalia Foundation Research Grant, 2013 University of Washington Teaching Assistantship, 2012 University of Washington Scholarship, 2011 Robert Page Graduate Choral Conducting Award, 2010 Chorus America Scholarship, 2010 Temple University Graduate Assistantship 2010 Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, 2009 UP Leadership Bursary, 2008 UNISA National Piano competition, finalist, 2006 Van Riebeeck Society Best Essay Award, 2006 LANGUAGES Fluent in English and Afrikaans Fair in German, Dutch, Flemish Familiar with indigenous African languages, such as isiZulu and SeSotho Acquiring proficiency in Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian INSTRUMENTS Piano (principal instrument) Violin Voice HOBBIES Camping, chess, current events, fly-fishing, hiking, media, music, travel world history. MUSIC-RELATED TRAVEL Australia, Austria, Botswana, Czech Republic, Estonia (2013), France, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Latvia (2013), Lithuania (2013), Lesotho, Lichtenstein, Netherlands, Norway, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, United States, Zimbabwe. PRINCIPAL CONDUCTING MENTORS Geoffrey Boers University of Washington Giselle Wyers University of Washington Rollo Dilworth Temple University Alan Harler Temple University Luis Biava Temple University Johann van der Sandt University of Pretoria MASTER CLASSES AND LESSONS Armstrong, Anton St. Olaf College Caplin, Thomas Lund University, Sweden Carrington, Simon Yale University Cornelius, Jeffrey Temple University Dilworth, Rollo Temple University Hanken, Kåre Norwegian Academy of Music, Norway Harrington, Jan Indiana University Jordan, James Westminster Choir College Kowainen, Pekka Jyväskyla University, Finland

9 Rardin, Paul University of Michigan Vanags, Romans Jãzeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music, Latvia Varonen, Rita Jyväskyla University, Finland Woebcken, Frederika Bremen University, Germany Yamron, Janet Temple University

LABAN-CERTIFIED MOVEMENT SCIENCE WORKSHOPS Participant 2011-13 Ongoing workshops with certified Laban-movement specialist Carol Schoboe.

IFCM VOICES CONFERENCE AND CONDUCTING COMPETITION Finalist, 2009 Finalist for national South African conducting competition.

10 REFERENCES

Dr. Geoffrey Boers M.M. (PSU), DMA (UA) Director of Choral Activities University of Washington (206) 543-9212 [email protected]

Dr. Giselle Wyers M.M. (WCC), DMA (UA) Assistant Professor of Choral Studies University of Washington (206) 543-1398 [email protected]

Dr. Rollo Dilworth M.Ed (UMSL), D.M. (NU) Associate Professor in Choral Music Education Temple University (215) 204-8304 [email protected]

Dr. Johann van der Sandt M. Mus (UP), D. Mus (UP) Director of Music Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School, South Africa +27 (36) 468-1012 [email protected]

Dr. Christopher Walton MA (Oxon), MA (Cantab), DPhil (Oxon) Director Orchestre Symphonique Bienne, Switzerland +41 (76) 217-4611 [email protected]

Dr. David Cannata M.M. (SFCM), Ph.D. (NYU) Associate Professor of Music History University of Washington (215) 204-8301 [email protected]

Dr. Paul Jones M.M. (IU), D.M. (IU)

11 Director of Music Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia (215) 204-8304 [email protected]

12 APPENDIX A – REPERTOIRE LIST

CHORAL-ORCHESTRAL REPERTOIRE CONDUCTED Bach, J.S. Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1 Bach, J.S. Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227 Gjeilo, O. Credo from Sunrise Mass Haydn, F.J. Kleine Orgelmesse Mozart, W.A. Mass in G, KV 49 Pärt, A. Salve Regina (w. organ) Van der Watt, N Missa Meridiana de Terra (w. percussion) Vasks, P. Dona Nobis Pacem

CHORAL-ORCHESTRAL REPERTOIRE PERFORMED Bach, J.S. Magnificat Beethoven Choral Fantasy Beethoven Symphony No. 9 Bernstein, L. Chichester Psalms Brahms, J. Ein Deutsches Requiem Brahms, J. Nanië Brahms, J. Schicksalslied Britten A Boy was Born Clearfield, A. Golem Psalms Dobrogosz, S. Mass Duruflé, M Requiem Fauré, G. Requiem Handel Messiah Mahler Symphony No. 2 Mendelssohn, F. Lobgesang (Symphony No. 2) Miskinis, V. Light Mass Mozart, W.A. Requiem Orrf, C. Carmina Burana Pärt, A. Berliner Messe Pärt, A. Te Deum Rheinberger, J. Mass in Eb for double choir Schubert Mass in G Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms Verdi, G. Requiem

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