Jerry Blackstone
Encyclopedia
Jerry Blackstone is a Grammy Award
winning American
choral
conductor
. He is the Director of Choirs and Chair of the Conducting Department at the University of Michigan
and the Music Director of the University Musical Society Choral Union.
Blackstone holds degrees from Wheaton College
, Indiana University
, and the University of Southern California
and has served on the music faculties of Phillips University
, Westmont College
, and Huntington University
. In 1988, Blackstone joined the faculty of the University of Michigan, where he now conducts the University of Michigan Chamber Choir, teaches conducting at the graduate level, administers a choral program of eleven choirs, and directs the University of Michigan’s Summer Music Programs and Michigan Youth Ensembles.
From 1988-2002, Blackstone was the conductor of the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club
. He led the group on tours of Australia, Eastern and Central Europe, Asia, South America, and the United States. The Men’s Glee Club CD, I Have Had Singing, is a retrospective of his tenure as conductor of the ensemble.
Blackstone has appeared as festival guest conductor and workshop presenter in twenty-eight states as well as Hong Kong, Shanghai and Australia. His publications include an educational video, Working with Male Voices, and the Jerry Blackstone Choral Series.
In April 2004, Blackstone became Conductor and Music Director of the University Musical Society Choral Union, a large community/university chorus that frequently appears with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
performing major choral-orchestral works. In 2003-2004, he prepared the choirs for the Grammy-winning recording of William Bolcom
's Songs of Innocence and of Experience.
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
choral
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
conductor
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...
. He is the Director of Choirs and Chair of the Conducting Department at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and the Music Director of the University Musical Society Choral Union.
Blackstone holds degrees from Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
, Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
, and the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and has served on the music faculties of Phillips University
Phillips University
Phillips University was a private, coeducational institution of higher education located in Enid, Oklahoma, United States, from 1906 to 1998. It was affiliated with the Christian Church . It included an undergraduate college and a graduate seminary...
, Westmont College
Westmont College
Westmont offers 26 majors, including: alternative major, art, biology, chemistry, communication studies, computer science, economics and business, education program, engineering physics, English, history, European studies, kinesiology, liberal studies, mathematics, modern languages , music,...
, and Huntington University
Huntington University (United States)
Huntington University is an institution of higher education in Huntington, Indiana, United States, that is affiliated with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.- History :...
. In 1988, Blackstone joined the faculty of the University of Michigan, where he now conducts the University of Michigan Chamber Choir, teaches conducting at the graduate level, administers a choral program of eleven choirs, and directs the University of Michigan’s Summer Music Programs and Michigan Youth Ensembles.
From 1988-2002, Blackstone was the conductor of the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club
University of Michigan Men's Glee Club
The University of Michigan Men's Glee Club is an all-male glee club at the University of Michigan currently conducted by Eugene Rogers. With roots tracing back to 1859, it is the second oldest glee club in the United States and is the oldest student organization at the University...
. He led the group on tours of Australia, Eastern and Central Europe, Asia, South America, and the United States. The Men’s Glee Club CD, I Have Had Singing, is a retrospective of his tenure as conductor of the ensemble.
Blackstone has appeared as festival guest conductor and workshop presenter in twenty-eight states as well as Hong Kong, Shanghai and Australia. His publications include an educational video, Working with Male Voices, and the Jerry Blackstone Choral Series.
In April 2004, Blackstone became Conductor and Music Director of the University Musical Society Choral Union, a large community/university chorus that frequently appears with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its main performance center is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood...
performing major choral-orchestral works. In 2003-2004, he prepared the choirs for the Grammy-winning recording of William Bolcom
William Bolcom
William Elden Bolcom is an American composer and pianist. He has received the Pulitzer Prize, the National Medal of Arts, two Grammy Awards, the Detroit Music Award and was named 2007 Composer of the Year by Musical America. Bolcom taught composition at the University of Michigan from 1973–2008...
's Songs of Innocence and of Experience.