Quite possibly the best part of my work as an artist is the opportunity to meet fascinating, brilliant people, and to work with truly wonderful organizations. Here are a few that I am especially proud to be associated with.
People
Heather Dudenbostel — An accomplished singing actor, and my better half. In addition to her busy career as a performer, she maintains a vibrant studio of private voice students; check out her voice studio website: HD Voice Studio. She also makes a life-changing chocolate chip cookie.
Jad Bernardo — One of the most musically generous pianists I have ever worked with. He accompanies, coaches, and music-directs all over NYC and beyond!
Christopher Kelts — A gifted conductor and dear friend currently working in the Kansas City area. He serves as the Music Director of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra and is on the faculty of Washburn University in Topeka.
Gabriel Gargari — An up-and-coming operatic character tenor and longtime friend.
Roger Briggs — Brilliant composer and conductor of international renown, and winner of too many awards and fellowships to list here. He is currently on the faculty at Western Washington University and Music Director of the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra, and continues to be a great mentor to both Heather and me.
Jake Millgard — Versatile stage and screen actor, star of a nationally broadcast Verizon commercial, and heck of a neighbor. I actually officiated his wedding this past summer!
Krister Lile — Take Scandanavian sensibility, add Left-Coast openmindedness, and mix it up with a little mud from the bottom of your kayak, and you end up with some of the finest design work out there today.
Steve Sherman — Award-winning playwright and actor in NYC. He is currently working to produce his full-length play On Campus sometime in 2011. We did giant Easter egg hunts together as kids without ever meeting one another.
William Coogan — Guitarist and composer currently living in Bloomington, IN. I conducted a few of his pieces at Western Washington University.
Organizations
Manhattan School of Music — I have worked with the student orchestras and wind ensemble here for the past two years, and am honored to have been invited back for a third.
Collaborative Stages — Now in its second full season of productions, this company is committed to finding a home for artists of all disciplines to produce theatrical work together. Collaborative Stages is co-producing our upcoming production of Orpheus and Euridice
Lincoln Center Theatre — I had the pleasure of playing in the orchestra for this incredible theatre's Tony-Award-winning production of South Pacific on and off for over two years.
Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras — With five orchestras and two summer music festivals, SYSO is the largest organization of its kind in North America. SYSO's crown jewel is the Marrowstone Music Festival, which I attended as a high-schooler, and where I now serve as a faculty member.
