Adrian A. Durlester

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A longer form Resume with more complete theatrical and musical credits (open in a new window)

 

 Adrian has relocated to the Chicago area where he is now serving as Bnai Mitzvah tutor for Beth Emet-The Free Synagogue in Evanston, IL and at B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim in Deerfield, IL.  He is also an Early Childhood Music Specialist for the JCCs of Chicago, serving several sites including Horwich & Kaplan JCCs, as well as at Am Shalom. Adrian sometimes does music for Hakafa in Glencoe, IL, and B'nai Tikvah in Deerfield, IL. During the summer of 2012, Adrian was the Shira and T'fila specialist at the Ramah Day Camp in Wheeling, IL. In May 2011, he relocated back to his home town, New York City, after three decades away, to assume a position as Music Teacher for the Lower School of the Abraham Joshua Heschel School in Manhattan. In addition to these activities, Adrian works as a consultant to Jewish educators on implementing and using technology, editing some upcoming Jewish textbooks, giving workshops and presentations, and other Jewish activities. He currently writes a column on technology uses in Jewish education for the Torah Aura Productions Bulletin Board, TAPBB.

Summer 2011 he was the Jewish Music Specialist for the 92nd St. Y's Camp Yomi day camp. In the spring of 2011, he served the Society for the Advancement of Judaism in New York City as substitute music teacher and service leader while their cantor was on leave.

Adrian spent  Summer 2010 at the Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute Camp in Oconomowoc, WI as Media Specialist.

Adrian lived in Amherst, Massachusetts from the fall of 2008 to the spring of 2011. He served area synagogues and Jewish institutions in a variety of roles. From March-June 2010 he served as Acting Religious School Principal for Jewish Community of Amherst while the Director was on sabbatical. He also substitute taught at the Lander-Grinspoon Academy - the Solomon Schechter School of the Pioneer Valley.

From 2003-2008, while living in the metro DC area, Adrian was  Director of Educational and Congregational Life at Bethesda Jewish Congregation, working with Spiritual leader and Kol Bo, Hazzan (now Rabbi) Sunny Schnitzer.  His (more than) tripartite role there combined the various tasks of religious school director, synagogue management, along with musical and liturgical activities.  He also co-directed the Shir Tze'ir Jewish Teen Choir of Alexandria, VA and is taught Confirmation classes at Agudas Achim Congregation in Alexandria.

Adrian played piano for the monthly first Friday Kolot Shabbat musical services at  Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria, VA., where he served as Director of Education until assuming his role at Bethesda Jewish Congregation.  He performed and accompanied around the greater DC area with diverse groups including the Kol NoVa-the Jewish Community Youth Choir of Northern Virginia and the Olam Tikvah Chorale, both under the direction of Carol Boyd Leon.  Graphic of Gan Shirim CD Cover

Adrian is  co-producer, editor, arranger and accompanist on the 70 song songbook and 2-CD collection from Carol, entitled Gan Shirim, published by KTAV. 

From 1997 to 2001, Adrian edited Bim Bam, a weekly fax newsletter for Jewish teens produced by Torah Aura Productions. Adrian returned as Bim Bam editor for the 5765 (2004-5) school year and was  the editor of the retargeted C.Ha. through 2007, when it was retired from publication

Adrian served as an instructor for the Introduction to Judaism Course offered in Northern Virginia by the Union for Reform Judaism Mid-Atlantic Council.

Adrian was Conference Chair for CAJE 27, held from  August 4-8, 2002, at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas. He has served on the national Board of Directors of CAJE (the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education). He was co-chair for the evening program at the 26th annual CAJE conference, August 5-9, 2001 at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, reprising a role he played for CAJE 23 in San Antonio. He is well known in the contemporary Jewish music scene. He has accompanied Fran Avni, Debbie Friedman, Sam Glaser, Nancy Linder and other Jewish artists. 

Adrian coordinated musical entertainment for the Washington Jewish Folk Arts Festival, December 2003, November 2004,  2005  and 2006. He co-produced the Washington DC area Jewish Community's "350 Years of Jewish Music in America" and "Israel at 60" mass choir concerts at the Strathmore Concert Hall.

 

Adrian is also the perpetrator of the Hanashir email discussion list for Jewish songleaders, singers, songwriters, music educators, cantors, composers, etc. and also manages the affiliated Hava Nashira web site. In addition he performs Jewish music with various artists.

 

Before his time in the DC Metro area from 2001-2008, Adrian  was teacher of Judaica and Hebrew (1st and 2nd Grade) and Music (K-6) at Nashville's Jewish Day School, Akiva School. He served as Music Director at Congregation Micah, Brentwood, TN. He was also on staff at Camp Davis of the Gordon JCC of Nashville.

Adrian writes a weekly musing on the parashat hashavua which can be found on his musings page and in his musings archive. 

Adrian is a native of New York City, graduate of the Bronx High School of Science ('73), and holds a BFA in theatrical production and management from the School of Design & Production of the North Carolina School of the Arts ('77). He is also an accomplished musician and pianist, having studied 14 years pre-college first at The Juilliard School and then the Manhattan School of Music. He received his Master of Theological Studies degree from Vanderbilt University Divinity School in May 2000. 

Adrian now works full-time in Jewish Education, Music & Drama. Prior to this, he spent a significant number of years working in theatrical production and management. His theatrical production experience covers the full spectrum - producer, director, designer (lighting, scenery, and audio), stage & production manager, technical director, musical director, et al. Adrian managed performing arts centers in Elkhart, Indiana (1981-88) and Fargo, North Dakota (North Dakota State University's Festival Concert Hall) (1988-98.) He also worked as a freelance designer and production generalist. In Fargo Adrian also served as Music Director and as Director of Religious Education for Temple Beth El.

Summer 2000, Adrian taught theatre camp and served as Drama specialist at the Nashville JCC's Davis Summer Camp. In summer 1999 he also worked at the JCC camp, teaching theatre, community service and circus camps. The previous two summers he was the  Media Specialist at  Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute Camp, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

In the late 70s, Adrian spent several years as a member of a Dixieland band, The New Dixie Zing Kings, which performed and appeared in Mobile, AL; New Orleans, LA; and Clearwater, FL.

Adrian is a member of ASCD, NATE and the GTM

Adrian lives in Deerfield, IL.

Adrian is available for hire as a solo performer, pianist, lecturer, songleader, workshop facilitator, accompanist, musical director, consultant, theatrical designer or manager. See the Services for Hire page to find out about the many Musical Services, Jewish Education Services, Theatrical Services  and PowerPoint Presentation creation services available.

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My Musical Equipment

 

You can see pictures of some of my lighting and scenic designs.

About Me:

Things I Like:

Magazines and  Newspapers I Read:

Television Shows I Watch (or watched) with Some Regularity (in no particular order)

Things I Don't Much Care For:

My Former Cats, Shiprah and Puah (I miss them!)

Things I like and collectPicture of SpongeBob Stuff

Lighthouses (and Miniatures)

     (Split Rock Lighthouse, Minnesota)

                          
           

 

            Sponge Bob Squarepants

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People I Admire and Who Have Made a Difference in My Life:

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My Computer(s):

Software I Use and Like:

Software No Longer Around I Really Liked

My Studio and Musical Equipment

My Favorite Android Apps

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Send Me a Message:  Adrian A. Durlester

Last Updated 02/01/13