Résumé

Russell Nadel, composer

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • General and Choral Music Specialist, Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School (Fairfax County Public Schools, VA), September 2006 - present
    • Finalist, Outstanding First-Year Teacher of the Year Award, Fairfax County Public Schools (2007)
    • Developed and delivered daily and unit lesson plans in General Music for 400+ students from kindergarten through sixth grade, once or twice a week for 30 or 45 minutes per class.
    • Taught Chorus to fifth- and sixth-graders as an elective class, 45 minutes per week, and prepared students for four public performances per year.
    • Directed the Recorder Masters and Percussion Ensemble extracurricular ensembles for third- through sixth-grade students, obtained grants to purchase new instruments, and taught weekly 45-minute classes before school hours for each group to prepare student participants for four public performances per year.
    • Piloted a weekly fifth-grade Guitar Class for eleven students during the school day (2009-2010) and a weekly after-school Composers’ and Songwriters’ Club (2010-2011).
    • Co-directed annual International Night Celebrations and Chinese New Year Parades.
    • Taught private and small-group recorder, piano, guitar and drum lessons to interested school students outside of contract hours for no charge.
  • Private music instructor (Northern Virginia), October 2007 - present
    • Created customized and personalized pedagogical plans for students ranging in age from 12 to 18 that combined musicianship, music theory, music history, ear training, dictation, improvisation and composition.
  • Master composer-teacher, Baltimore Opera Company (Baltimore, MD), March-May 2006
    • Piloted “Create & Produce,” an eight-week educational outreach project, in a Title I elementary school in Baltimore City that lacked regular music classes.
    • Guided, instructed, directed, accompanied and assisted a group of twenty third- and fourth-grade students in writing an original opera libretto and composing 25 minutes of original opera music, which they performed publicly.
  • Guest composer & lecturer for the first annual "Junior Bach" Project, Loyola Academy Middle School (Baltimore, MD), February-May 2006
    • Taught at-risk seventh-graders about the processes and techniques of music composition
    • Participated in the performance of these students' first compositions, in a concert in their honor held at the Peabody Conservatory.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Guest presenter, American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Jan. 2011 & Jan. 2010
    • Presented original compositions, lesson plans, and teaching techniques.
  • Guest presenter, Fairfax County Public Schools, Continuing the Journey, Nov. 2010 & Nov. 2009
    • Led an interactive workshop for new teachers on using the Sibelius® music notation software and incorporating it into education, and on integrating SMART Board® technology and lesson plans into General Music instruction.
  • Guest presenter, Mid-Atlantic SMART Board® SUCCESS Conference, Arlington, VA, August 2010
    • Presented "Neat SMART Board® Tips and Tricks for the Music Classroom."
  • Mentor for beginning teachers, Fairfax County Public Schools, Fine Arts Department, September 2009 - present
  • Teacher Consultant, Kennedy Center ARTSEDGE program, Washington, DC, September 2009 - present
    • Assisted in designing and editing materials for the National Symphony Orchestra's concerts for Washington-area schoolchildren for the 2010-2011 season, and created SMART Board® lessons for teachers to prepare their students for the concert.
    • Composed an original commissioned orchestral work for ARTSEDGE based on drawings and ideas submitted by Washington-area fourth-grade students.
  • Teacher Consultant, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Education Department, Fairfax, VA, September 2010 - present
    • Volunteered to serve on the Program Development Committee and helped redesign the Orchestra's elementary-school assembly programming.

EDUCATION

  • The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
    • Master of Music degree in Music Composition (May 2006)
      • Major teacher: Dr. Bruno Amato
      • Minor teachers: Dr. Harlan Parker, conducting (2003-2005); Mark Cudek, guitar (2004-2005); Deidra Palmour, voice (2001-03); Dr. Nancy Roldán, piano (2001-02)
    • Bachelor of Music Education degree with concentration in composition (May 2006)
      • Major teachers: Dr. Harlan Parker, Dr. Laura Parker, Dr. Cherie Stellaccio
      • N-12 Maryland teaching license earned
    • Bachelor of Music degree in Music Composition (May 2005)
      • Major teacher: Dr. Bruno Amato
  • Other Coursework and Certifications
    • Orff-Schulwerk music pedagogy
      • Level III coursework and certification pending July 2011, at George Mason University
      • Level II coursework completed at George Mason University, under Jacqui Schrader, Victoria Redfearn-Cave and Matthew McCoy (July 2010)
      • Level I coursework completed at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, under Matthew McCoy and Anne Puckett (August 2006)
    • Walden School music pedagogy
      • Level III coursework and certification pending August 2011
      • Level II coursework completed August 2006
      • Level I coursework completed August 2005
    • Kodály music pedagogy
      • Level I coursework completed at the Hartt School of Music of the University of Hartford, CT, under John Feierabend (August 2006)
  • Previous teachers:
    • Music theory/composition: Dr. Harold Boatrite (1999-2001), Christopher Buzby (2000-01)
    • Piano performance: Christopher Buzby (2000-01), Alyssa Davidson (1997-98), Ron Marlowe (1991-97)

SELECTED HONORS & AWARDS

  • Winner, Guild of Temple Musicians Young Composer's Award (2010)
  • Winner, Fairfax Education Association Grant, Fairfax County, VA (2008)
  • Winner, Virginia Education Association Grant (2007)
  • Finalist, First-Year Teacher of the Year Award, Fairfax County Public Schools (2006-2007)
  • Winner, Mu Phi Epsilon Madge Cathcart Gerke Scholarship for study in music education (2006)
  • Second Prize, Virginia Carty DeLillo Composition Competition (2006)
  • Sterling Senior Achievement Award Winner for the most outstanding graduating senior member internationally, Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Fraternity (2005)
  • Winner (Division I, Class A), Mu Phi Epsilon Original Composition Contest (2005)
  • Winner, Bakersfield Symphony New Directions Call for Scores (2005)
  • Peabody Alumni Award for the graduating senior with the highest cumulative GPA (3.99 out of 4.0), Peabody Conservatory (2005)
  • Frank D. Willis Memorial Prize for excellence in music composition, Peabody Conservatory (2005)
  • Second Prize, Prix d'Été X (2005)
  • Runner-up (Emerging Composer), New York Art Ensemble Young Composer Competition (2005)
  • Second Prize, Eighteenth Annual Austin Peay State University Young Composer's Competition (2004)
  • Mervyn Sluizer, Jr., Eagle Scout Scholarship winner (2004, 2001)
  • Honorable Mention, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Alpha Lambda Chapter) First Annual Young Composers Competition (2004)
  • Honorable Mention (Elementary/Middle School Division), 2005 Renée B. Fisher Composer Awards (2004)
  • Peabody Career Development Grant (2004)
  • Composition selected for performance, 6th National Student Conference, Society of Composers, Inc. (2004)
  • First Prize (University Division), Vancouver Chamber Choir Young Composers' Competition (2003)
  • Second Prize, Prix d'Été VIII (2003)
  • Winner, Peabody Camerata Student Composer Contest (2003)
  • Gustav Klemm Prize for excellence in music composition, Peabody Conservatory (2002)
  • Dean's List with High Honors, Peabody Conservatory (2001-present)
  • Peabody Conservatory Merit Scholarship (2001-present); named scholarships, 2004 and 2002
  • Selected Participant, Baltimore Choral Arts Society Student Composer Project (2001, 2002)
  • Director's Award, The Walden School (Dublin, NH) (2001)
  • Second Prize (Secondary Division), Vancouver Chamber Choir Young Composers' Competition (2001)
  • First Place (1998), Third Place (1999), Honorable Mention (2001), Mordechai Anielewicz Creative Arts Competition

MEMBERSHIPS

  • Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society (2005-present)
  • Golden Key International Honour Society (2004-present)
  • Mu Phi Epsilon Professional Music Fraternity (2003-present)
  • MENC (2001-2010), MMEA (2001-2006), VMEA (2006-present), FGMEA (2006-present)
  • American Music Center (2005-2008)
  • Society of Composers, Inc. (2004-2006)
  • National Association of Composers, USA (2003-2005)

REFERENCES available upon request


COMPOSITIONS

  • Butterfly (2010), for flute choir
  • Hashkiveinu (2010), for bass-baritone and piano
  • Shabbat Cycle (2010), for soprano and piano
  • The Road to Independence (2010), for orchestra
  • Windy Nights (2009), for two-part children's treble chorus
  • Point-Counterpoint (2009), for flute and alto recorder
  • Euphony (2008), for flute choir
  • Flood (2008), for two-part children's treble chorus
  • Four Haiku (2007), for SATB chorus
  • Crash-Bang (2006), for tape
  • Canon for three instruments (2006)
  • Victory March (2006), for wind ensemble
  • Lyric Variations (2006), for wind ensemble
  • Crossings (2006), for solo piano
  • Compression Waves (2005), for orchestra
  • Wail (2005), for saxophone quartet (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone)
  • Etudes for solo guitar (2005)
  • Canon for three voices (2005)
  • Settler Songs (2004), for two violins
    • also arranged for violin and viola or two violas
  • Music Shall Lift Us Up (2005), canon for three voices
  • From Depths of Grass (2004), seven texts of Dylan Thomas set for soprano or mezzo-soprano and piano
  • Five Scenes for Ten Players (2004), for chamber wind ensemble (woodwind and brass quintets)
  • Serenata a due (2003), for flute and guitar
  • Fantasia and Fugue on a Gregorian Theme (2003), for two pianos
  • Campanology (2003), for malletKAT® (and MIDI processing equipment)
  • Three Dances (2002), for viola and two marimbas
    • also arranged for alto saxophone and either 4-hands marimba or two marimbas
  • Dodici (2002), for sextet (flute/piccolo, B-flat clarinet, violin, 'cello, piano, percussion)
  • Four Psalms (2002), for mixed SATB chorus (a cappella)
    • Includes settings of Psalms 23 (composed 2001 and rev. 2002), 100, 121 and 130
  • Trio (2002), for C trumpet, horn and trombone
  • Fugue No. 1 in B-flat minor (2002), for solo piano
  • Invention No. 1 in C minor (2002), for solo piano
  • Concerto Grosso in A major, op. 872 (2001), for English horn, bassoon and piano
  • Little Suite for Solo 'Cello (2001), for unaccompanied 'cello
    • also arranged for unaccompanied viola
  • Reflection (2001), for flute, percussion and piano
  • Gloria (2001), for concert band
  • In Youth Is Pleasure (2001), for SABar children's choir (with piano accompaniment)
  • Skipping Stones (2000, rev. 2003), for flute and piano
  • Sanctus (2000), for mixed SATB chorus (a cappella)
  • The Last Invocation (2000), for alto or mezzo-soprano voice and piano
  • Hornpipe (2000), for clarinet and 'cello
  • 26 Months and a Week (2000), for solo piano
  • Xanadu (2000), for piano trio
  • The Wind Through the Trees (2000), for solo piano
  • Prelude (2000), for solo piano
  • First Set (2000), for solo piano
    • Includes "Wanderings" (withdrawn) and "Rejoicings"
  • A New Hope (1999), for flute and piano
  • In Remembrance (1998), for solo piano