 |
Matthew N. Russell
|
Matthew N. Russell, Director of Choral
Activities at Columbia High School, joined the Music Department of
the South Orange and Maplewood Public Schools in the fall of 2006.
At CHS, Mr. Russell teaches four periods of curricular choirs and AP
Music Theory. He also
conducts the co-curricular choirs and serves as vocal music director
for the All School Musical.
Prior to joining the CHS staff, Mr. Russell served as a
choral director with the Roxbury Township Public Schools in
Succasunna, NJ. He has
also taught on the faculty of the Penn State Music Camp for high
school musicians during the past five summers. Mr. Russell became
the Music Director and Conductor of the Maplewood Men's Glee Club
beginning with the 2007-2008 concert season.
Mr. Russell holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education
and a Master of Music Degree in Choral Music and Conducting from the
Pennsylvania State University where his major teachers were Dr. Lynn
E. Drafall, Dr. Anthony T. Leach, and Dr. D. Douglas Miller. While
at Penn State, he served as a graduate teaching assistant in the
choral department and was an assistant conductor for the PSU Concert
Choir, Oriana Singers, University Choir, and Campus Choir. In
addition, Mr. Russell studied organ and choral music at the
University of Kansas where he participated in a master class with
French organist Marie-Claire Alain. The master class has been
released by the American Guild of Organists on their DVD series
entitled The Master Series.
Mr. Russell’s organ teachers have included June Miller, Dr. Pierce
Getz, and Dr. James Higdon.
Originally from Lewistown, PA, Mr. Russell
works frequently in church music. He is currently Director of Music
and Organist at St. John's Episcopal Church in Montclair, NJ, where
he has helped to install a new, state-of-the-art custom designed
Allen Renaissance Organ as a part of his tenure. Mr. Russell also
performs as an organ recitalist and as a guest organist/pianist with
choral ensembles and soloists. He holds professional membership with
the ACDA, MENC, NEA, and the AGO.