ADRIAN A. DURLESTER, M.T.S.

 

1141 Deerfield Rd, Apt. 2A                                                       E-mail: adrian@durlester.com

Deerfield, IL 60015-4136                                                             Website: www.durlester.com      

(347) 762-0223   or (703) 898-7206              

OBJECTIVE

Jewish Education-Lifelong Learning Director/ Music Educator/ Theatrical Generalist

 

HIGHLIGHTS

  • 18+ years in Jewish Education with 10+ years as a Director of Education/Lifelong Learning
  • Decades of experience as a Jewish Music songleader, performer, educator
  • 17 years of successful management of performing arts facilities and theatrical productions
  • Experienced pianist, musician, musical director, choral director, songleader, and music educator with expertise in Jewish music, opera, musical theatre, G&S.
  • On the forefront of using technology, social media in Jewish Ed and the performing arts
  • Currently writes a column on technology in Jewish Education for the Torah Aura Bulletin Board

 

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

  • Successfully administered educational programs for congregations and supplemental schools in small and large communities
  • Have taught and worked across the Jewish denominational spectrum, and at all age levels
  • Experience at Jewish summer camps and other informal educational settings
  • Wide-ranging technology skills – hardware, software, networking, social media
  • 52 years as a pianist, with wide-ranging experience as a musical director, choir director, songleader, accompanist, conductor, and music educator (trained at The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music pre-college divisions)
  • Performance facilities manager, production and stage manager, theatrical set/lighting/audio designer, technical director, producer

 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Feb 2013-present        B’nai Mitzvah Tutor, B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim, Deerfield, IL  

Oct 2012-present        Early Childhood Music Specialist, JCC of Chicago (Various Locations)

July 2012-present       B’nai Mitzvah Tutor, Beth Emet-the Free Synagogue, Evanston, IL.

June-Aug 2012           T’filah and Shira Specialist , Ramah Day Camp, Wheeling, IL.

Aug 2011-July 2012   Lower School Music Teacher , A.J. Heschel School, New York, NY.

Sep 2011-Mar 2012    Religious School Music Teacher, Temple Israel, New Rochelle, NY.

June-Aug 2011           Jewish Music Specialist , 92nd St. Y Camp Yomi Day Camp, New York, NY.

2001-present               Freelance Editor, Teacher, Tutor, Presenter, Consultant, Musician, Performer

Jan-April 2011            Substitute Religious School Music Specialist & Family Service Music Leader Society for the Advancement of Judaism, New York, NY.    

June-August 2010       Media Specialist , Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute Camp, Oconomowoc, WI.

2008-2010                   Religious School Teacher, Bnai Mitzvah Tutor, Music Specialist, Jewish Community of Amherst, Amherst, MA.

Temporary Acting Religious School Principal (spring 2010)

2008-2009                   Director of Youth & Family Ed ,Congregation B’nai Israel, Northampton, MA.

2003-2008                   Director of Education & Congregational Life. Bethesda Jewish Congregation, Bethesda, MD. Also Music and Choir, IT support

2001-2003                   Director of Education, Beth El Hebrew Congregation, Alexandria, VA. (URJ affiliated) Also music and choir, IT support

2002-2008                   Instructor, Grades 8-10, Agudas Achim Congregation, Alexandria, VA (USCJ affiliated) Also Co-Director, Shir Tze’ir/Hazamir Teen Choir

1997-2007                   Torah Aura Productions, Los Angeles, CA. Editor, C.Ha and Bim Bam

2000-2001                   Teacher of Judaics & Hebrew (Grades 1,2) Music (whole school)

Akiva School, Nashville, TN

1998-2001                   Director of Music, Religious School Teacher, Web Maven , Congregation Micah, Brentwood, TN. (URJ affiliated)

June-August 1998       Media Specialist , Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute Camp, Oconomowoc, WI.

June-August 1997       Media Specialist , Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute Camp, Oconomowoc, WI.

1990-1998                   Director of Education and Music,Temple Beth El, Fargo, ND. (URJ affiliated)

1988-1998                   Production Manager , Festival Concert Hall, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND.

1981- 1988                  Resident Stage Manager/Technical Director, Beickman Performing Arts Center, Concord Community Schools, Elkhart, IN.

 

EDUCATION

Master of Theological Studies, Vanderbilt University Divinity School, Nashville, TN 2002

BFA, North Carolina School of the Arts (School of Design & Production) 1977

Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, NY 1973

Manhattan School of Music, Preparatory Division (1969-1973)

The Juilliard School, Pre-College Division (1960-1969)

 

OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Hava Nashira Jewish Songleading Workshop, OSRUI, Oconomowoc, WI (1992-present)

Instructor, Introduction to Judaism Course,Mid Atlantic Council of the URJ (2004-2005)

Hebrew Teacher, Grades 5 & 7, The Temple-Ohabai Sholom (URJ), Nashville, TN (1999-2000)

Staff Specialist, Gordon Jewish Community Center Camp Davis, Nashville, TN (1999-2001)

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development ; Guild of Temple Musicians; National Association of Temple Educators; Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education (1992-2009)

United States Institute for Theatre Technology (1974-1998)

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES

Jewish Folk Arts Festival of Greater Washington Organizing Committee (2002-2006)

Co-producer, Washington, DC Jewish Community Israel@60 Celebration Concert (2008)  and

350 Years of Jewish Music in America Celebration Concert (2005)

Cultural Arts Committee, Gordon Jewish Community Center, Nashville, TN (1998-2001)

Panelist, Grants Program Selection Committee, North Dakota Council on the Arts (1995-1996)

 

REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST