Mark Merritt

Experienced choral conductor, composer, clinician and educator with a passion for teaching college undergraduate and graduate students outstanding choral techniques, musicology, music theory, music history and choral literature. Studied composition with Henry Hallstrom. Mr. Hallstrom studied composition under Randall Thompson and Howard Hansen. Skilled in teaching college students in choral music at all levels. Adept at mentoring graduate music students from other cultures, notably from Latin America and China. Long track record of producing outstanding choral programs and recruiting participants.

• American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (A.S.C.A.P.)
• American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
• American Guild of Organists (AGO)

• Grace United Methodist Church, Columbia, South Carolina, Director of Music Ministries, 2015-Present, Recruit singers to the choir. Significant growth, pre-Covid, stability since Covid., Conduct the adult choir in weekly worship, Prepare and conduct two multi-movement choral works per year, one during Advent and one during Lent, Lead congregational singing, Assist with worship planning as a member of the worship team, Responsibly manage the music budget
• Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, San Antonio, Texas, Minister of Music, 2012-2015, Recruitment of singers from the church, Established a successful Choral Scholars program, Established Holy Spirit Community Concert Series, Recruited and developed a church accompanist from a graduate piano student to a church organist, Collaborated with other local churches for combined choir events, a choral evensong and two performances of the Fauré Requiem, Spearheaded a successful campaign to purchase a Rodgers digital organ for the church, Fostered growth in the choir with 12 new members in this fast-growing church, Managed a musical staff of eight
• Private Voice Studio, Voice Studio, 2002-2012

• Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus, Print Music Source Music Publishing, 2015
• I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me, Print Music Source Music Publishing, 2015
• Love Came Down at Christmas, SATB chorus and organ, Dream Mill Music Company, 2007
• Precious Little One, SATB chorus, organ, and flute, Dream Mill Music Company, 2007
• Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, SATB chorus, keyboard, and optional brass, Dream Mill Music Company, 2007
• Deo Gratias, SATB chorus, a cappella, Dream Mill Music Company, 2006
• Thank God Today, SATB chorus, a cappella, Dream Mill Music Company, 2006
• Bethlehem, SATB chorus, and keyboard, optional chamber orchestra, Dream Mill Music Company, 2006
• We Come to Your Table, SATB chorus and organ, Dream Mill Music Company, 2006

• The Wanderer's Carols, 2010, Voce Choral Ensemble, Three-movement work for treble solo, SATB Chorus and Harp, North Carolina Music Educator's Conference
• How Firm a Foundation, 2010, John Mills for the Retirement of Sandy Beam, For SATB Chorus and Organ, First Presbyterian Church, Mount Airy, NC
• The Church's One Foundation, 2008, First Presbyterian Church, Mount Airy, NC, For SATB chorus, organ, and brass, optional timpani, First Presbyterian Church
• O God You Have Been Good to Us, 2008, Heritage United Methodist Church, Lynchburg, VA, For SATB chorus and organ, with optional a cappella section, brass and hand bells, Heritage United Methodist Church
• River Dreams, 2007, Catlettsburg Leadership Club and partially funded by the Kentucky Arts Council, Seventeen movement Broadway-style musical play, eleven movements fully orchestrated, Ashland Community and Techinical College Theater, Ashland, KY
• Joy Comes in the Morning, 2006, Surry County Ecumenical Hand Bell Festival, For two-part equal voices and hand bell accompaniment, optional organ accompaniment, First Baptist Church, Mount Airy, NC
• Her Hands, 2004, Mark Gillespie in honor of Tee Gillespie's 70th birthday, For medium vocal solo, keyboard, violin, and bass, Mount Airy Country Club

• The secular music forms of the Renaissance
• The Vespers of 1610 by Claudio Monteverdi
• Choral literature for men's and women's choruses by Johannes Brahms

• Guest Conductor and Clinician, 49th annual Mystic Area Ecumenical Choir Festival, Mystic, CT, 2017
• Guest Conductor, UTSA Women's Choir, Texas Collegiate Women's Choir Festival at Texas A&M, College Station, TX, 2014

• Conductor, doctoral lecture recital with University of South Carolina Graduate Vocal Ensemble 2018
• Conductor, Haydn Theresienmesse and Hanson Song of Democracy, USC Summer Chorus 2017
• Conductor, Vivaldi Gloria and Haydn Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo, USC Grad Vocal Ensemble with chamber orchestra 2016
• Conductor, Combined Choirs of Travis Park United Methodist Church and Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit with chamber orchestra, Requiem in D minor, G. Faure 2015
• Conductor, Master of Music Choral Conducting Recital with UTSA Concert Choir and UTSA Women's Choir 2014
• Conductor, VOCE Choral Ensemble in Choral Evensong at historic Bruton Parish Church 2012
• Conductor, VOCE Choral Ensemble in multiple performances at The Biltmore Estate 2010
• Conductor, VOCE Choral Ensemble in premiere of The Wanderer's Carols at the NC Music Educators Conference 2010
• Interview guest on National Public Radio WFDD Triad Arts up Close with David Ford 2010
• Premiere of River Dreams, commission partially funded by the Kentucky Arts Council 2007

Proficiency in Fourscore, Finale, MS Office, Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn

Choral literature, vocal pedagogy, music history, science of singing, music theory, music appreciation, choral conducting

• Kappa Pi Lambda Music Honor Society (University of South Carolina) 2017
• Golden Key Honor Society (University of Texas at San Antonio) 2014

Long career in corporate sales and finance in management positions.

American Choral Director's Association

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers

American Guild of Organists