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Adrian A. Durlester

last updated 04/26/08

RESUME

ADRIAN A. DURLESTER, M.T.S.

20604 Top Ridge Dr
Boyds, MD 20841    

E-mail: adrian@durlester.com 

(301) 601-0680 (Home)
(703) 898-7206 (Cell)
(301) 469-8636 (Work)                                                                               

Objectives:

• To serve as a Jewish education professional, administrator and generalist, working in formal and informal settings, liturgical music and music education, drama & theatre, computers, technology and the internet, camp settings, teaching, lecturing, editing and writing, et al, helping to shape the Judaism of the 21st century, and to help facilitate interfaith dialog and understanding based on mutual respect.
• To serve as a theatrical production generalist, working in professional, academic, and community/amateur formal settings, to bring the joy, magic, and intellectual stimulation of live theatrical, operatic and musical ensemble performance to humanity.
• To serve as a musical specialist, musical director, accompanist, performer and composer, working in professional, academic, and community/amateur formal settings, to bring the joy, magic, and intellectual stimulation of musical performance to humanity.

Education

• Master of Theological Studies (Hebrew Bible Emphasis), Vanderbilt Divinity School, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (May 2002)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts, Theater Technology (stage management emphasis) School of Design & Production, North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, NC (May 1977)
• Graduate with Merit, Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, NY (1973)
• Student of Piano, Music Theory, Opera Production, Preparatory Division, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY (1969-1973)
• Student of Piano, Solfege, Music Theory, Preparatory Division, The Juilliard School, New York, NY (1960-1969)

Current Employment

• Director of Education and Congregational Life, Bethesda Jewish Congregation, Bethesda, MD (July 2003-present)
  • Responsibilities include administration of religious school (grades pre-K to 12,) youth programming, and lifelong education programs; faculty/staff hiring, training, supervision, and evaluation; curriculum development and review; textbook review and selection; developing and implementing special programs and worship services; developing budget and overseeing expenditures and purchasing; lead congregational worship services; musical director, accompanist and choir director; plan, oversee and maintain IT systems including hardware, networks, congregational web sites and electronic communications; bar/bat mitzvah preparation and tutoring. Bethesda Jewish Congregation has shared and jointly built sacred space with Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church since 1965.

• Co-Director/Accompanist, Shir Tze’ir (Song of Youth) Jewish Teen Choir of Northern Virginia (September 2003-present)
• Instructor, Agudas Achim Congregation Religious School , Alexandria, VA (September 2002 to present.)
  • Develop, plan and teach Judaic content courses to students in the Grades 8-11 Confirmation program.
• see other sections for additional concurrent activities

Previous Employment

• Director of Education, Beth El Hebrew Congregation, Alexandria, VA (July 2001-July 2003)
• Editor, C.Ha and Bim Bam, Torah Aura Productions, Los Angeles, CA (1997-2007; BimBam 1997-2001, 2004-2005; C.Ha-2005-2007)
  • Weekly Jewish e-mail and fax news summary and discussion-starter for high-school and middle-school students

• Director of Music, Congregation Micah, Brentwood, TN, (1998-2001)
• Instructor, Akiva School (Jewish Day School), Nashville, TN (2000-2001)
  • Hebrew, Jewish Holidays, Jewish History, Torah, and Siddur skills, Grades 1-2
  • Jewish Music and Music Appreciation, Grades K-6
• See Theatrical Experience and Musical Experience sections for employment prior to 1998

Other Jewish Education Experience

• Instructor, Introduction to Judaism Course sponsored by the Mid Atlantic Council of the Union for Reform Judaism ( 2 18 week sessions, Winter 2004, Spring 2005)
• Hebrew Instructor, Grade 4, Congregation Micah (URJ,) Brentwood, TN (2000-2001)
• Hebrew Instructor, Grades 5 & 7, The Temple-Ohabai Sholom (URJ), Nashville, TN (1999-2000)
• Staff Specialist, Gordon Jewish Community Center Camp Davis, Nashville, TN (1999-2001)
  • Developed and ran musical theatre, circus and community service programs and Judaics programs
• Judaics Instructor, 11th Grade, West End Synagogue (USCJ,) Nashville, TN (1999)
• Video Specialist, Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute Camp, Oconomowoc, WI (Summer 1997, 98)
• Director of Religious Education, Temple Beth El (URJ,) Fargo, ND (1995-1997)
• Religious School Teacher, Grades 5 & 6,Temple Beth El, Fargo, ND (1993-1995)
• Participant, Hava Nashira Jewish Songleading Workshop, Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute Camp, Oconomowoc, WI (1992-1998, 2000-present)

Professional Activities and Professional Development

• CAJE (Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education)
  • Member, Board of Directors (1998-present)
  • Annual Conference Chair, CAJE 27 Conference, August 2002, San Antonio, TX
  • Evening Program Chair, CAJE 26 Conference (2001), CAJE 23 Conference (1998)
  • Mazkirut (organizing committee), CAJE24, 30, 32 Conference (1997)
  • Participant, CAJE Leadership Kallah (1997)
  • CAJE Conference Presenter (1995-present)
• Presenter, Professional Day Workshops, Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning (nee Board of Jewish Education of Greater Washington) (2001-present)

Theatrical Professional & Management/Administrative Experience (partial listing)

• Production Manager, Festival Concert Hall, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 1988 - 1998
  • Performing arts facilities administration and operations including management, artistic, technical, front-of-house services, booking and scheduling, contracting, negotiation, budgeting, policy development, personnel, in house scenic, lighting audio design and technical direction. Also worked concurrently as a freelance lighting, scenic, and audio designer and consultant.

• Resident Stage Manager/Technical Director, Beickman Performing Arts Center, Concord Community Schools, Elkhart, IN, 1981 - 1988
  • Operation and technical supervision of performing arts facility; serve as in-house scenic, lighting, audio designer and technical director. Concurrently produced a summer community theatre program for the School system, and worked freelance as a lighting, scenic, audio designer and consultant.
• Production Manager, Elkhart Civic Theater, Elkhart, IN (March-August 1988)
  • Responsible for technical, artistic and administrative functions. Also served as musical director, stage director, lighting designer, scenic designer for several productions.
• Co-Producer, Concord Community Theatre, Elkhart, IN. (1984-1988)
  •     Co-Producer of summer musical theatre program . Responsible for promotion and publicity, casting, overall administrative supervision and operations, personnel. Also served as production manager, scenic, lighting and audio designer, musical director.

Theatrical Credits and Other Experience

In the DC Area, 2001-present

• Book and Lyrics for “Shushanalot”, a Purim Shpiel parody of “Monty Python’s Spamalot”
• Co-Producer, Production Manager, and Technical Liason, Libi B’Mizrach-My Heart is in the East – Strathmore Music center, Bethesda, MD March 2008
  • Mass synagogue/community choir concert with over 500 participants on stage at once
• Co-Producer, Production Manager, and Technical Liason, 350 Years of Jewish Music in America  – Strathmore Music center, Bethesda, MD March 2005
  • Mass synagogue/community choir concert with over 500 participants on stage at once
• Entertainment Coordinator, Jewish Folk Arts Festival of Greater Washington (2003-2007)
• Powerpoint Presentation Creation
  • Let My People Sing Concerts, Los Angeles, CA (March/April 2006, 2007)
  • CAJE 31 Opening and Closing Programs, Duke University, Durham, NC (August 2006)
  • CAJE 31 Opening and Closing Programs, Washington University, St. Louis, MO (August 2007)

In Nashville, TN 1998-2001

• Musical Theater Camp, Gordon Jewish Community Center Camp Davis
• Theatrical Facility Consultant, Gordon Jewish Community Center

In Fargo, ND (1988-1998)

• For Red River Dance and Performing Company, Fargo, ND (1988-1998)
  • Lighting/Audio Design "Christmas Holiday '89, '90, '91,'92"; "Here's Love" (11/95)
  • Lighting Design/TD "Damn Yankees"
  • Lighting Design Student Recitals (1990-96)
  • Audio Design/TD "New Works in Jazz", "Christmas Holiday '88,92", "West Side Story", "Annie"
• For Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera Company, Fargo, ND (1988 to 1998)
  • Lighting Design "The Mikado", "The Tender Land", "Dessert Song", "The Student Prince", "Trial by Jury", "Gianni Schicchi", "Hansel & Gretel", "Dessert Song", "I Pagliacci", "Elixir of Love", "Pirates of Penzance", "Ballad of Baby Doe", "Cavelleria Rusticana", "HMS Pinafore"
  • Set & Lighting Design "The Merry Widow"

• For Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre, Fargo, ND (1990-1998)
  • Lighting Design "Little Shop of Horrors", Silver Follies '92, '93
  • Light & Set Design "Paint Your Wagon", "Road to East L.A.", "The Seven Year Itch"

• Freelance Designs
  • Carousel Dance Theatre "The Pageantry of Christmas" (12/97)
  • Lighting Instructor, Trollwood Performing Arts School (Summer '96)
  • Lighting Design, Sweet Adelines Regional Competition (4/96)
  • Lighting & Audio Design - North Dakota USA Triple Pageant (8/92)
  • Lighting Design "Into The Woods" - NDSU Theatre Department (Guest Designer) (4/92)
  • Lighting Design "Fame" - Moorhead High School Drama Program (5/91)
  • Lighting Design "King of Hearts" - NDSU Theater Department (Guest Designer)(2/91)
  • Lighting Design "Narnia" - Gwynner Junior Players, Gwynner, ND (7/89)
  • Lighting Design - Orchesis Dance Company, Fargo, ND (2/89)

In Elkhart/South Bend, IN 1981-1988

• For Elkhart Civic Theater, Elkhart, IN 9/81-8/88:
  • Sets & Lights, Staging & Musical Director - "Villainy 'N Vaudeville" review
  • Musical Director - "Once Upon A Mattress"
  • Lighting Design - "The Mikado", "Talley's Folly", "Haunting of Hill House", "Pippin", "The Odd Couple"
  • Set & Lighting Design, TD - "Brigadoon", "My Fair Lady", "Annie", "Music Man"
  • Set, Lighting & Audio Design, TD - "West Side Story", "Fiddler on the Roof"
  • Set & Lighting Design, Musical Director - "Snoopy!"
• For Concord Community Theater, Elkhart, IN. 9/85 - 3/88:
  • Set & Lighting Design, Co-Musical Director - "...Charlie Brown" & "Snoopy!", "Godspell"
  • Set & Lighting Design, Musical Director - "How to Succeed in Business..."

• For Concord Community Schools, Elkhart, IN.
  • Set, Lighting & Audio Design, TD for all, 9/81 3/88:
  • "South Pacific", "No, No, Nannette", "Anything Goes", "...Charlie Brown", "Sound of Music",
  • "Fiddler on the Roof", "Finnian's Rainbow", "Up the Down Staircase", "Feiffer's People", "Spoon
  • River Anthology", "If A Man Answers", "Our Town", "Christmas Spectacular '81-'88"
• Other Freelance Design Credits:
  • Lighting Designer, Miss Elkhart County Pageant ('82-'87)
  • Lighting Designer, "Nutcracker", Michiana Ballet ('81-'83)
  • Lighting Designer/TD, Elkhart Concert Club Season ('81-'88)
  • Lighting Designer, Patchwork Dance Company ('83-'86)

Earlier Theatrical Credits

• Lighting Director, Golden Apple Dinner Theater, St. Petersburg, FL (January-April 1981)
• Stage Manager, Live Shows Dept., Kings Dominion, Doswell, VA (Summer 1976)
• Stage Manager, Education Department, City Center of Music & Drama/NYC Opera/NYC Ballet, New York, NY.  Internship for credit at NCSA, January-May 1976
  • Responsible for stage, company, and touring management of touring educational opera productions with personnel from New York City Opera and Ballet productions with personnel from New York City Ballet.
• Assistant Stage Manager and Production Assistant, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY. 1969-1975
  • Preparatory Opera program and College Division John Brownlee Opera Theater.

Musical Credits and Other Experience (partial listing)

In the DC Area, 2001-present

• Pianist for “Simcha B’Shabbat” monthly services at Bethesda Jewish Congregation, Bethesda, MD (2003-present)
• Musical Director and Pianist, Purim Shpiels at Bethesda jewish Congregation (2003-present)
• Pianist for “Kolot Shabbat” monthly services at Beth El Hebrew Congregation, Alexandria, VA (2001-present)
• Performer, CAJE 32, St. Louis, IL (August 2007) Performed with Sam Glaser, Joe Black, Beth Schafer.
• Accompanist  at CAJE Conferences for Jewish artists Debbie Friedman, Fran Avni, Sam Glaser, Judy Caplan Ginsburgh, Karen Daniel, Helen Kates, Robbi Sherwood, Carol Boyd Leon, CAJE Idol Competition, CAJE Cantor’s Chorale, CAJE Chorale (1995-present)
• Co-Director, Hazamir Jewish Teen Arts Institute Choir of Northern Virginia (2001-2006)
• Choir Director, Kol Ami, Temple Beth Ami, Rockville, MD (2005-2007)
• Producer, arranger, accompanist for Dayenu CD and Book by Carol Boyd Leon, to published by KTAV in 2009 (2008)
• Producer, arranger, accompanist for Gan Shirim CD and Songbook by Carol Boyd Leon, published by KTAV (2004)
• Musical Director/Accompanist, Broadway Review I & II, Temple Beth Ami, Rockville, MD and Agudas Achim, Alexandria, VA
• Accompanist, Hazamir Jewish Teen Choral Festival, New York, NY (2003, 2004, 2005)
• Freelance pianist

Nashville, TN (1998-2001)

• Performed with and recorded three albums with singer/songwriter Karen Daniel
• Musical Director/Pianist for “After Anatevka” at Congregation Micah (Spring 2001)
• Musical Director/Pianist for West End Synagogue 125th Anniversary Program (Spring 1999)
• Pianist for "Salute to Irving Berlin" at Congregation Micah (Spring 1999)
• Pianist for West End Synagogue Sanctuary Rededication (December 1999)
• Musical Director/Pianist for Nashville JCC Program "Salute to the Yiddish Theatre" (December 1998)
• Recorded Jewish cantorial works with artist Judy Caplan Ginsburg (May 1999)

Fargo, ND (1988-1998)

• Accompanist and Show Pianist for productions at Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater (Fargo, ND)
• Accompanist for various North Dakota State University musical ensembles, students and faculty recitals (Fargo, ND)

Elkhart, IN (1981-1988)

• Musical Direction and Accompanist for productions of Elkhart Civic Theatre (Elkhart, IN)
• Music Direction and Accompanist for productions of Concord Community Theater (Elkhart, IN)
• Accompanist for various musical ensembles of Concord Community Schools

Clearwater, FL; New Orle ans, LA; Mobile, AL (1977-1980)

• Manager/Pianist, New Dixie Zing Kings Dixieland Show Band
• Freelance Pianist

Skills

• Jewish Religious school administration, programming and curriculum development
• Accomplished pianist, musician, accompanist, musical director, conductor (choral and orchestral)
• Competency in Biblical and Modern Hebrew
• Digital music recording and creation using Sonar;
• Musical notation and transcription using Finale
• Musical arranging and producing
• Performance facilities administration/management, theatrical production management, stage management, technical direction; design & execution of lighting/scenery/audio; stage direction, musical direction; theatrical producing; promotions and publicity
• Design and creation of PowerPoint presentations
• Advanced computer skills—network installation/administration, web page design, desktop publishing, computer-aided drafting and design, computer maintenance and repair

Software Skills

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Publisher
• Microsoft Frontpage
• Microsoft Expression Web
• Dreamweaver
• Davkawriter
• Finale
• Sonar
• Logos/Libronix
• Google Apps
• Quicken/Quickbooks

Professional Affiliations

• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
• Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education (life member)
• Guild of Temple Musicians
• National Association of Temple Educators
• United States Institute for Theatre Technology (1974-1998)

Other Community Service Activities

• Vice President, Education Directors Council, Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning (2007-present)
• Hava Nashira Jewish Songleaders website and List (1993-present)
• Jewish Folk Arts Festival of Greater Washington Organizing Committee (2002-2006)
• Co-producer, Washington Jewish Community Israel@60 Celebration Concert (2008)
• Co-producer, Washington Jewish Community 350 Years of Jewish Music in America Celebration Concert (2005)
• Worship Committee, Vanderbilt Divinity School (1999-2000)
• Cultural Arts Committee, Gordon Jewish Community Center, Nashville, TN (1998-2001)
• Panelist, Grants Program Selection Committee, North Dakota Council on the Arts (1995-1996)
• Member, Internet Subcommittee, UAHC Communications Committee (1990-1997)
• AIDS Memorial services, Fargo, ND (1992-1997)
• Technical advisor, State of North Dakota Centennial Kickoff Celebration (1988)
• Technical assistant, Seventh International Special Olympics Summer Games (South Bend, IN 1987)

REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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This Page Last Updated 04/26/08