Curriculum Vitae

BORN: 1980, North Adams, Massachusetts

Awards, Grants, Fellowships & Scholarships:

• Juddertone Composer, 2009
• Nu Mu [sic!] Festival Participant/Composer, 2009
• Teaching Fellow, New England Conservatory of Music: 2006, 2007, 2008
• ASCAP Plus Awards: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
• Winner of NEC's Commencement Competition with Concerto for Toy Piano and Orchestra, 2005
• Winner of the NEC Honors Ensemble Composition Competition for Piano Trio No. 1, 2005
• Wolley Fund Grant, 2003
• Aaron Copland Scholarship to attend the Conducting Institute's Composer/Conductor Program at Bard College, 2001
• Eagle Scout Award, 1996
• Berkshire Chapter of the American Guild of Organists Organ Study Scholarship, 1994
• Berkshire Chapter of the American Guild of Organists Organ Study Scholarship, 1993

Selected Commissions:

Second Suite for Organ (commissioned by Katie Bailey for her husband, Scott Bailey, 2011)

Sing Unto the Lord for unaccompanied SSAATB choir (commissioned by the First Congregational Church of North Adams, 2010)

Seven Deadly Sins a dance piece, choreography by Kendra Heithoff, for 3 pianos, harpsichord, celesta, and glockenspiel (commissioned by Juddertone, 2009)

You Shall Love for SATB choir (commissioned by the First Congregational Church of North Adams, 2008)

Come You Who Are Blessed for SATB choir and organ (commissioned by the First Congregational Church of North Adams, 2008)

The Jolly Tuba for solo tuba (commissioned by Mike Blair, 2008)

Variations on Cunctipotens Genitor Deus for solo piano (commissioned by Carson Cooman for Jeffrey Grossman, 2008)

Sonata for Solo Tuba (commissioned by Mike Blair, 2008)

Adagio for Organ (commissioned by Carson Cooman, 2008)

Music for “Sunday Night” (commissioned by the Drury Drama Team for the premiere performance of Stephen Gregg's play Sunday Night, 2008)

Concerto for Piano, String Orchestra & Trumpet (commissioned by Stepan Rudenko, 2007)

Why a Dove? for solo soprano and piano, text by Jake Spitz (commissioned by Diane Maynard, 2007)

Three Miniatures for Toy Piano (commissioned by Rodney Lister, 2006)

The Latest Popular Tune from Zeta Reticuli for solo saxophone (commissioned by and dedicated to Benjamin Sorrell, 2006)

Concerto for Viola and Five Players (commissioned by Karen Hopkins, 2006)

Polka! for piano (commissioned by Andrew Cashner, 2006)

Music Bed for literacy commercial on WNAW 1230AM (2006)

Music Beds for WSBS 860AM (2006)

Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star for Bb clarinet (commissioned by Joseph Howell, 2006)

Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra (commissioned by Steve Lin, 2006)

The Lady of Shalott for soprano, trombone and piano (commissioned by Mary Ann Powers, 2006)

Greater Things Than These (music commissioned for an opera based on the miracles of Jesus Christ, 2005)

Three Miniatures for Solo Piano (commissioned by Troy Lucia, 2005)

Fantasy for Eb Alto Saxophone and Piano (commissioned by Benjamin Sorrell, 2005)

Three Songs for Mezzo with text by Edna St. Vincent Millay for voice and piano (commissioned by Maria Puliafico, 2005)

A Mouseful of Trouble a song cycle for soprano, Bb clarinet, and piano--also for SATB choir (commissioned by Christine Petkus, 2004)

Piano Trio No. 1 for violin, cello, and piano (commissioned by Stephanie Skor, 2004)

Concerto for Two Pianos, String Orchestra, and Percussion (commissioned by Keith Kirchoff, 2004)

Gloria for chorus, organ, and optional violin (commissioned by Saints Patrick and Raphael Church, Williamstown, MA, 2004)

Music Beds for WSKB 89.5FM's "Retro Rewind" radio program (2004)

Concerto for Toy Piano and Chamber Orchestra (commissioned by toy Keith Kirchoff, 2004)

Trio for Trombone, Trumpet & Piano (commissioned by Nick Strebent, 2003)

Evening Waltz for viola and harpsichord (commissioned by Maggie Martinez, 2003)

Sonata for Solo Viola (John Hendrick Memorial Commission Award, 2003)

Music for Dead Sexy, the soap opera series (2002)

When the Sky is no Longer Grey for organ and Eb alto saxophone (commissioned by Matthew Mancuso, 2000)

Theme music for Sports Chat, T.V. talkshow (1996)

Pieces McConnell (as a performer) Commissioned:

• Only Temporary (for organ) by Keith Kirchoff (2007-2008)
• Blitzkrieg (a toccata for organ) by Albert Oppenheimer (2006)
• The Quintessential Organ by Troy Lucia (2005)
• Wizard (for organ) by Julie Case (2002)

Places Where McConnell has been a Featured Guest Organist:

• Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church: Cambridge, MA
• Church of the Covenant: Boston, MA
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church: Stockbridge, MA
• St. Ignatuis Loyola Roman Catholic Church: Park Avenue, New York City
• Covenant Congregational Church: Jamaica Plain, Boston
• St. Andrew's Episcopal Chapel: Blackinton, MA
• Good Shepherd United Methodist Church: Malden, MA
• St. John's Episcopal Church: North Adams, MA
• First United Methodist Church: North Adams, MA
• First Baptist Church: North Adams, MA
• First Baptist Church: Cheshire, MA
• First Congregational Church: Dalton, MA
• First Congregational Church: Stockbridge, MA
• St. Anthony of Padua Church: North Adams, MA
• Evangelical Free Church: Pittsfield, MA
• Conway Village Congregational Church: Conway, NH
• St. Mark's Episcopal Church: Adams, MA
• First Congregational Church: North Adams, MA
• St. Patrick's Church: Williamstown, MA
• St. Raphael's Church: Williamstown, MA
• Church of St. Francis: North Adams, MA
• Second Congregational Church: Williamstown, MA

Frequent Performance Activities and Special Past Events:

• Regular Piano and Organ Recitals, Church Services, Weddings & Funerals
• Summer Organ Sounds Concert Series, First United Methodist Church, North Adams, MA
• Afternoon Organ Concert Series, First Congregational Church, North Adams, MA
• Berkshire Lyric Theatre Chorus (concert organist)
• Tuesday Night New Music Series, Boston, MA
• Performances with "The Toyland Band"
• Bennington Vocal Chamber Ensemble (accompanist)
• Featured in the "World's Largest Organ Concert"
• Holiday Programs for Sweet Brook and Willow Wood Nursing Homes, Williamstown MA
• Performances as Trontell, 80's keyboard electronica/rock music
• Benefit Concerts for the Salvation Army, Berkshire Food Project, and C.O.D.Y. Youth Project
• Concerts at Bennington College and the New England Conservatory of Music

Music-Related Positions and Leadership Roles:

• Professional Composer Mentor, The Vermont MIDI Project, 2010-Present
• Minister of Music at All Saints Episcopal Church, North Adams MA, 2010-Present
• Minister of Music at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Malden MA, 2008-2010
• BSA Music Merit Badge Counselor, 2009-Present
• Instructor/Teaching Fellow, New England Conservatory of Music, Theory Department/Keyboard, 2006-2008
• President of Ars Nova v.2, New England Conservatory's Music Technology Club, 2006-2007
• Vice President of the NEC Music Technology Club, Spring 2006
• Assistant for New England Conservatory's "Charles Ives Festival", 2005
• New England Conservatory's Contemporary Ensemble Assistant, 2004-2008
• Private Computer Consulting, (MIDI Recording and Performance Systems, Max/MSP programming), 2003-Present
• Private Instruction, (Piano, Organ, Counterpoint, Harmony, Composition, Orchestration, Keyboard Harmony), 2001-Present
• Bennington College July Program, Instructor of Musical Composition and Performance (including teaching the "Finale" musical notation program), 2002
• Music Copyist for Ricky Ian Gordon, 2002-2004, 2006-2008
• Music Copyist for John Heiss, 2006
• Accompanist at Bennington College, 1999-2001
• Assistant Conductor/Assistant Instructor/Music Intern, Conte Middle School, North Adams MA, 2001
• St. John's Episcopal Church, North Adams MA, Saturday Organist, 2000
• St. Ignatuis Loyola Church N.Y.C., Organist/Music Intern, 2000
• First Baptist Church, Cheshire MA, Organist/Choir Director, 1998-1999
• St. Andrew's Chapel, Blackinton MA, Organist, 1996-2003
• Drury Drama Team, Musical Director, 1995-1999

Education:

• New England Conservatory of Music, Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.), 2009
• New England Conservatory of Music, M.M. Musical Composition with Distinction in Performance (and Academic Honors), 2005
• Bennington College, B.A. Music, 2003

Compositions:

• Over 360 works ranging from short compositions for solo instruments to large orchestral works.

Music Publishers:

• E. C. Schirmer
• NewMusicShelf

Recorded on:

• Village Drive Entertainment: Masterworks of Music (DVD, 2009)
• KSK Productions: Keith Kirchoff Plays the Piano Music of New England (DVD, 2007)
• "M Squared" Records: Enchanting Piano Music (2007)
• The Toyland Band's "A Pennywhistle Christmas" Album (2004)
• "Rock Farm Records" (projects with, 2003)
• "M Squared" Records: Enchanting Harpsichord Music (2002)
• "M Squared" Records: Enchanting Organ Music (2001)