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The American conductor, J. Ernest Green, obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Toledo (1977-1981); and his Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from Peabody Conservatory of Music of The Johns Hopkins University (1981-1983). While at Peabody he was a student of, and assistant to, Frederik Prausnitz; and also studied choral conducting with Edward Polochick. He studied for his DMA degree in Orchestral Conducting also at Peabody Conservatory of Music (1981-1985).
Ernest Green served as Conducting Assistant of Baltimore Symphony Chorus (September 1982-August 1986); Music Director of Laurel Oratorio Society (August 1985-May 1989); Music Director and Conductor of Young Victorian Theatre Company in Baltimore (April 1985-August 1995); Principal Guest Conductor of McLean Orchestra in Virginia (July 2011-May 2012). He served as a Cover Conductor with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (September 2001-2013), where he worked with such artists as Metropolitan Opera star Denyce Graves, Sir James Galway, Pinchas Zukerman, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Osmo Vanska among others. He received acclaim for conducting the National Symphony Orchestra for a subscription weekend with a last minute call with less than 20 minutes notice!
As a Pops Conductor, Ernest Green has worked with and conducted for the late Marvin Hamlisch (February 2001-August 2012). In January 2013, he conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s tribute to Mr. Hamlisch, featuring Idina Menzel, Robert Klein and Lucie Arnaz, Maria Friedman, Brian D’Arcy James and Klea Blackhurst. In fall 2012, he was the Musical Advisor for the Memorial Concert for Mr. Hamlisch at The Juilliard School where he worked with Mike Nichols, Liza Minnelli, Aretha Franklin, Chris Botti, Kevin Cole, Maria Friedman, Lang Lang, and Barbra Streisand.
Currently Ernest Green is the Artistic Director of Live Arts Maryland (since 1985) and the Music Director of the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra (since September 1985) and Annapolis Chorale, and is the Director of the Bach+ Consort (since August 2014).
Ernest Green is works with and conducts for “Late Night” Music Director Paul Shaffer and recently lead a new symphony show with both Paul Shaffer and Valerie Simpson (of Ashford and Simpson) with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. He also recorded a live CD, “Play It Again Marvin” - featuring the music of Marvin Hamlisch which was released released in 2018 on Varése Sarabnade.
Known for his adventurous and creative programming as he pushes the boundaries of the concert hall, Ernest Green is has created several “fusion” programs combining standard concert repertoire with popular and contemporary music, which he has lead with orchestras both here and abroad. In addition, he has received acclaim for his concert productions of operas and other stage works, among them Verdi’s La Traviata, Sweeney Todd and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! He created a new concert production of W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni.
Ernest Green has appeared with many orchestras including: the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, Florida Orchestra, Kalamazoo Symphony, Tuscia Festival Orchestra (Italy), Annapolis Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Lincoln Symphony, Orquestra Sinfonica Nacional (Santo Domingo), Mesa Symphony, and Trinity Chamber Orchestra (Cleveland). He has toured with the Ballet Arabesque (Bulgaria) Mozart Festival Opera and the Teatro Lirico d’Europa.
Recently, Ernest Green is was the Musical Supervisor and Conductor for a new production of Sweet Smell of Success at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway. In June 2013 he was the Music Director and Conductor for One Singular Sensation a Broadway celebration honoring Mr. Hamlisch at the Hudson Theatre featuring, in addition to the artists listed above, Donna McKechnie, Marissa McGowan, Matthew Morrison, John Lloyd Young, Stephanie J. Block, Teal Wicks, Capathia Jenkins, Michael Douglas, Bernadette Peters, and Joel Grey. Upcoming engagements include concerts with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Long Beach Symphony, along with symphony pops concerts Paul Shaffer, Valerie Simpson and Todd Rundgren. In addition he is scheduled to appear with the Toledo Opera in 2022.
Ernset Gree is also Music Director and Choirmaster at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Annapolis, Maryland (since September 1996); Conductor and faculty member at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland (since January 2014), responsible for directing the Chorus program for the college as well as lecturing in the Music Department. In addition to his musical activities, he is an avid advocate for the arts. He has served as a music panelist for the Maryland State Arts Council and an advisor on its Strategic Planning Committee. In 2002, he was given the Performing Arts Award by the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County and, in 2012 was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. He currently lives in Annapolis, Maryland. |
