Biography
Conductor Melinda O’Neal, professor of music at Dartmouth College and artistic director & conductor of Handel Choir of Baltimore, has been praised for her “lucid and musical understanding of the score”, “moving and satisfying interpretations” and her “stylish and clear manner on the podium” by Hugh Macdonald, Berlioz scholar and music critic.
Handel Choir of Baltimore is a community oratorio ensemble of 45 voices presenting baroque and classic style works of Handel, Bach, Mozart and Haydn with period instrument orchestras as well as performing with colleague ensembles to present music from the 19th century to the present. Collaborations have included engagements with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Pro Musica Rara, Peabody Early Music, Bach Sinfonia (Washington DC) and American Opera Theatre. Recent projects include a recording of Handel’s Alexander’s Feast with the Bach Sinfonia (Dorian label) and commissioning and première of Jonathan Leshnoff’s Requiem for the Fallen.
From 1979-2004 O’Neal was music director and conductor of the Handel Society of Dartmouth College, a student-community oratorio society performing choral and choral-orchestral works with distinguished guest vocal artists and professional Hanover Chamber Orchestra. Under O’Neal’s 25-year leadership, the Handel Society performed two-to-three major choral-orchestral works each year, including Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette and L’enfance du Christ, John Adams’ Harmonium, Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Missa solemnis, Haydn’s Harmoniemesse and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, to name a few. O’Neal founded and led the music department’s study program in London; she currently teaches conducting and music theory courses.
O’Neal was founding conductor of Sonique, Boston Vocal Artists’ ten-voice professional chamber ensemble, and Group Vocale de St. Denis in Hanover, NH. She has been resident visiting professor at Indiana University, University of Georgia and Towson University, and guest conductor-in-residence for the Seattle Symphony Chorale.
O’Neal holds masters and doctoral degrees in choral-orchestral conducting from Indiana University School of Music and a bachelor of music education from Florida State University. She studied score preparation, choral literature and conducting with Julius Herford, Jan Harrington, Fiora Contino, Helmuth Rilling, Robert Shaw, Marcel Couraud, John Nelson and Thomas Dunn. Her research and performance interests include the relationship of text and music, historical performance practices and the music of Hector Berlioz. Her articles are published by E.C. Schirmer (“Coming to Terms with Historical Performance Practices” in Up Front!), Choral Journal and Conductors Guild Journal.
O’Neal is a past national board member of the Conductors Guild, serves on the research and publications committee of American Choral Directors Association, Maryland State Arts Council review panel and Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance board.
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