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The American conductor, composer, arranger, trumpeter, tenor singer, and educator, Eric Douglas Meincke, obtained his Bachelor of Music Education from the Florida State University College of Music (2016-2020; Summa cum laude, with honors); and his Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the Eastman School of Music (2020-2022). He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music in Conducting at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana (since August 2022). During his musical career, he has studied with renowned musicians such as Christoph Eschenbach, Emanuel Ax, James Ross, Philip Mann, Bevan Keating, Dr. Christopher Moore, Dr. Patrick Dunnigan, Dr. David Plack, Vincent DiMartino, and John Aley.
Eric Meincke has years of experience conducting various ensembles around the world, including over four years of experience with the Second Presbyterian Church Adult Choir, with guest conducting appearances in London, Montreal, and Little Rock, Arkansas. He also has numerous immersive experiences working with vocal choirs, bell choirs, and instrumental ensembles, conducting ensembles like the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, Cantores Musicae Antiquae at Florida State University, the Mo-Ranch Instrumental Ensemble, the Second Presbyterian Church Youth Handbell Choir, and self-created ensembles like the Florida State University Early Music Brass Ensemble, the Arkansas Symphony Youth Reunion Orchestra, the Arkansas Studies Institute Orchestra, and the Music Education Benefit Concert Orchestra.
As a composer, Eric Meincke has had several orchestral, band, solo, and mixed works and arrangements premiered with ensembles and soloists like the Praeclara Handbell Ensemble, the Little Rock Central High School Symphonic Winds, the Florida State University Early Music Brass Ensemble, the Mo-Ranch Instrumental Ensemble, the Second Presbyterian Church Youth Handbell Ensemble, the Organist at Second Presbyterian church, and self-premiered works on organ and piano. He is also a published journal-writer in the Call to Worship Lectionary Guide published by the Presbyterian Mission Agency in Louisville, Kentucky. currently serves as an Associate Instructor in the Jacobs School and as Music Director for First United Church in Bloomington (since August 2022).
Music plays a beautiful, unique, and important role in the worship service, and Eric Meincke believes the primary job of those in the music ministry is to accentuate that role in a variety of ways, whether that is through choral music, bell music, or solo instrumental and vocal performances. Further, he believes those in this ministry have a responsibility to reflect the diversity that has for so long been underrepresented by our canon and usher that repertoire into the worship service in a way that echoes the inclusive mission of First United Church.
Meincke is also the recipient of multiple awards like the Career Encouragement Certificate from the American Prize in Conducting, the Manley R. Whitcomb Memorial Scholarship, the Arkansas Governor's Award for Musical Excellence, and the John Phillip Sousa Award.
Eric Meincke also enjoys officiating high school football and baseball games in his spare time and is an avid Florida State sports fan. He currently lives in Bloomington, Indiana. |
