John Douglas (conductor)
Encyclopedia
John Douglas was an American conductor
, voice teacher
, vocal coach
, and accompanist.
, Douglas graduated from Tates Creek High School
in Lexington, Kentucky
in 1973. In 1977 he graduated from Wittenberg University
with a Bachelor of Music
degree, and in 1979 he earned a Master of Music
in piano performance from Bowling Green State University
. In 1979 he joined the faculty of the New England Conservatory where he served as the head of the music staff through 1989. He concurrently served on the voice faculty of the Boston Conservatory
as an instructor of European diction from 1980-1989. He was also an instructor of German diction and repertoire coach at the American Institute for Musical Studies in Graz, Austria in 1985 and 1986.
In 1989 Douglas joined the faculty of the Boyer College of Music and Dance
at Temple University
as an associate professor in the department of voice and opera; remaining there until his death 21 years later. He became the music director and conductor of the school's Opera Theatre program, notably conducting more than 50 student opera productions. He was the recipient of the Temple University Faculty Award for Creative Achievement in 2006.
During the 1980s Douglas worked on the staffs of several opera companies, including the Merrimack Lyric Opera Company, the Boston Concert Opera, and the Goldovsky Opera Institute. In 1983 and 1989 he served as the assistant conductor of the Central City Opera
. From 1990-1993 he served as music director and principal conductor of the Ash Lawn Summer Festival. He worked as a vocal coach and conductor at the Chautauqua Opera
from 1994–2002. From 2003-2010 he served as a board member of the National Opera Association.
In 2003 Douglas became director of the apprentice program, chorus master, and head of music staff at the Lake George Opera (LGO), a post he held unti his death of melanoma
in 2010. He conducted several operas for the LGO, including performances of La Vie Parisienne
(2007) and The Barber of Seville
(2006). He also performed frequently as an accompanist in recitals and concerts; including making recital appearances with Denyce Graves
, David Holloway, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
, William Lewis
, Haijing Fu, Marquita Lister
, and Victoria Livengood among other well known singers.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, voice teacher
Voice teacher
A voice teacher or singing teacher is a musical instructor who trains adults and children in the art of singing. This generally involves training in breath control and support, proper tone production, pitch control and musical intonation, proper formation of vowels and consonants as well as...
, vocal coach
Vocal coach
A vocal coach is a music teacher who instructs singers on how to improve their singing technique, take care of and develop their voice, and prepare for the performance of a song or other work. Vocal coaches may give private music lessons to singers, or they may coach singers who are rehearsing on...
, and accompanist.
Life and career
Born in Morgantown, West VirginiaMorgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
, Douglas graduated from Tates Creek High School
Tates Creek High School
Tates Creek High School is a public school in Lexington, Kentucky. It is located at 1111 Centre Parkway with a ZIP code of 40517. It is in Southeastern Lexington between Gainesway and Southeastern Hills Subdivisions. The school is one of five high schools in the Fayette County Public Schools...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
in 1973. In 1977 he graduated from Wittenberg University
Wittenberg University
Wittenberg University is a private four-year liberal arts college in Springfield, Ohio serving 2,000 full-time students representing 37 states and approximately 30 foreign countries...
with a Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
degree, and in 1979 he earned a Master of Music
Master of Music
The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
in piano performance from Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
. In 1979 he joined the faculty of the New England Conservatory where he served as the head of the music staff through 1989. He concurrently served on the voice faculty of the Boston Conservatory
Boston Conservatory
The Boston Conservatory is a performing arts conservatory located in the Fenway-Kenmore region of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in music, dance and musical theater...
as an instructor of European diction from 1980-1989. He was also an instructor of German diction and repertoire coach at the American Institute for Musical Studies in Graz, Austria in 1985 and 1986.
In 1989 Douglas joined the faculty of the Boyer College of Music and Dance
Boyer College of Music and Dance
The Boyer College of Music and Dance is the music school at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Boyer College of Music and Dance is the music school at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The college includes the Boyer College of Music, founded in 1962, and the Temple...
at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
as an associate professor in the department of voice and opera; remaining there until his death 21 years later. He became the music director and conductor of the school's Opera Theatre program, notably conducting more than 50 student opera productions. He was the recipient of the Temple University Faculty Award for Creative Achievement in 2006.
During the 1980s Douglas worked on the staffs of several opera companies, including the Merrimack Lyric Opera Company, the Boston Concert Opera, and the Goldovsky Opera Institute. In 1983 and 1989 he served as the assistant conductor of the Central City Opera
Central City Opera
Central City Opera is the fifth-oldest opera company in the United States, founded in 1932. Each festival is presented in the 550-seat historic Central City Opera House built in 1878 in the gold mining era town of Central City, Colorado. Pelham G...
. From 1990-1993 he served as music director and principal conductor of the Ash Lawn Summer Festival. He worked as a vocal coach and conductor at the Chautauqua Opera
Chautauqua Opera
The Chautauqua Opera is the resident summer opera company of the Chautauqua Institution. It is the oldest continuously active summer opera company in the U.S, having been founded in 1929, and it has produced several operas during the Institution's nine-week summer season every year since...
from 1994–2002. From 2003-2010 he served as a board member of the National Opera Association.
In 2003 Douglas became director of the apprentice program, chorus master, and head of music staff at the Lake George Opera (LGO), a post he held unti his death of melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
in 2010. He conducted several operas for the LGO, including performances of La Vie Parisienne
La Vie Parisienne
La Vie Parisienne was a magazine in France founded in 1863 and popular at the turn-of-the-twentieth century. It was originally intended as a guide to upper class and artistic life in Paris , but it soon evolved into a mildly risqué erotic publication...
(2007) and The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville, or The Futile Precaution is an opera buffa in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with a libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based on Pierre Beaumarchais's comedy Le Barbier de Séville , which was originally an opéra comique, or a mixture of spoken play with music...
(2006). He also performed frequently as an accompanist in recitals and concerts; including making recital appearances with Denyce Graves
Denyce Graves
Denyce Graves is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer.-Early life:Graves was born on March 7, 1964, to Charles Graves and Dorothy Graves-Kenner. She is the middle of three children and was raised by her mother on Galveston Street, S.W., in the Bellevue section of Washington...
, David Holloway, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson was an American mezzo-soprano, known for the dramatic power of her vocal artistry as well as her commitment to performing infrequently-heard Baroque era and contemporary works...
, William Lewis
William Lewis
William Lewis was involved in English Association Football in various capacities in the early 20th century. He was first a referee, then a director and later manager of Brentford between 1900 and 1903. He became the first club secretary of Chelsea Football Club when it was founded in 1905, with his...
, Haijing Fu, Marquita Lister
Marquita Lister
Marquita Lister is an American operatic soprano. She has sung with major companies in the U.S. and abroad, specializing in the lirico-spinto repertoire...
, and Victoria Livengood among other well known singers.