Conductor

Mark Marotto

Mark Marotto is conductor of the University of Michigan Arts Chorale. In addition to conducting a wide range of concerts in the United States and Canada, Marotto maintains an active career in Europe - including recent performances in Switzerland, France, Spain and Romania. For the past eight years, Marotto has served as artistic director of Le Louverain Choral Festival in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, and recently led their chorus in a 30th anniversary concert. In July 2009, he conducted the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus and Orchestra. For the 2009-2010 season, Mark is also guest conductor of the Windsor Classic Chorale in Windsor, Canada as well as conductor of the Huron Hills Choir in Ann Arbor.

Marotto has studied at Duke University, the Bucharest Conservatory, and the University of Michigan, where he is currently completing a doctorate in choral conducting. In his training, he has worked with a number of prominent conductors, among them Jerry Blackstone, Helmuth Rilling, Christopher Hogwood, Kurt Masur, and George Pehlivanian. In addition to conducting, Marotto pursues interests in both music education and management research. Most summers, he teaches a music appreciation course for Pepperdine University’s programme in Lausanne, Switzerland. His research on leadership has been published in scholarly management journals as well as featured in conferences throughout Europe and North America.

Assistant Conductor

Brandon Straub

Brandon, a native of Michigan, is currently pursuing a M.M. in Choral Conducting. Before coming to University of Michigan in fall 2008, Brandon served for four years as the Oaklawn-Tuttle Chair of Vocal Music at The Hill School near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At The Hill he directed the choral ensembles and musicals, taught the History of Art and Music, and served as the school's organist. Over the past four summers, he has served as a conductor, coach-accompanist, and instructor of advanced musicianship on the faculties of the New York State Summer School for the Arts (NYSSSA) and Interlochen Arts Camp. Brandon earned a B.A. in Music Education from Michigan State University. As a student, he served as a singer and accompanist for numerous choral ensembles and opera productions, including three years as accompanist of the MSU Men's Glee Club. Brandon is also currently in his second year as Director of Music at First Baptist Church in Ann Arbor.

Conductor

John Trotter

Canadian-born John William Trotter is currently in residence in the Doctoral conducting program at the University of Michigan. While at the University he has also served as assistant instructor of conducting, Conducting Faculty of the Residential College, and Opera Chorusmaster. Trotter's conducting work has been recognized internationally through numerous prizes, grants, and guest conducting invitations; to date he has conducted over a dozen professional choirs and orchestras in five countries. In 2007, while still a Masters student, Trotter was awarded second prize in the Graduate Division of the ACDA Student Conducting Competition. In 2008 he was awarded a major individual grant by the Canada Council for the Arts, and during the summer season conducted in concerts with Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra as well as the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra and Chorus.

Trotter's pursuit of advanced conducting training has taken him across North America and Europe, including studies with Jerry Blackstone, Kenneth Kiesler, Helmuth Rilling, Jon Washburn, Andrew Parrott, Eric Ericson, and others. His ongoing professional conducting work ranges from traditional choral/orchestral repertoire, new music and film score recording to various forms of outreach as a clinician, adjudicator, conducting teacher, keynote speaker, and leader of improvisation workshops. His guest conducting appearances in 2008/09 will include concerts with the Windsor Classic Chorale and the Vancouver Chamber Choir. For more information, visit www.johnwilliamtrotter.com.

Assistant Director

Alejandro Manso

Alejandro Manso is currently in his second year in the Master's degree of Choral Conducting at the University of Michigan. He received his bachelor's degree in vocal education at Simpson College in Indianola, IA. Born and raised in Kansas City, KS, Alejandro began music at an early age taking voice and piano lessons. Studying voice in his undergraduate degree, he discovered his passion for conducting in his classes. He has studied with ensembles such as Chanticleer and the Westminster Chamber Choir in Florence, Italy. Alejandro has had the opportunity to assist and lead such ensembles as The Residential College Choir, the University Choir and Orpheus Singers at the University of Michigan. In addition to conducting, Alejandro has sung in many operatic performances and choral ensembles. He looks forward to the opportunity to work with eager and talented musicians and is grateful for the opportunity to work with the wonderful and extremely talented singers of Arts Chorale.

Accompanist

Brandon Straub

Brandon, a native of Michigan, is currently pursuing a M.M. in Choral Conducting. Before coming to University of Michigan this fall, Brandon served for four years as the Oaklawn-Tuttle Chair of Vocal Music at The Hill School near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At Hill he directed the choral ensembles and musicals, taught the History of Art and Music, and served as the school's organist. Over the past three summers, he has served as a conductor, coach-accompanist, and instructor of advanced musicianship on the faculties of the New York State Summer School for the Arts (NYSSSA) and Interlochen Arts Camp. Brandon earned a B.A. in Music Education from Michigan State University. As a student, he served as a singer and accompanist for numerous choral ensembles and opera productions, including the MSU Men's Glee Club. Brandon is also currently the Director of Music at First Baptist Church in Ann Arbor.