David Barela

PO Box 81062

Seattle, WA 98108-1062, United States

Main 206-763-1655

www.dgbrecords.com

dgbrecords@qwest.net

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I was four years old when my father took me to the home of Mrs. Kelly, the local church organist, for my first piano lesson.   My primary instrument is the piano but I devoted many years to the art of singing.  I also studied and performed professionally as a dancer and actor.  Teaching piano and voice, coaching and accompanying students and professionals alike, have played a major role in my life.  In 1998, I formed my record label DGB Records.  DGB Records was my first exposure into the world of the music business.  This résumé is an account of my pursuit of excellence in the performing arts.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Musical Director and Organist                                                                  1996 - Present

Gethsemane Lutheran Church                                    Seattle, WA.

I am the musical director at Gethsemane Lutheran Church.  I am responsible for choosing the music and conducting the adult choir and the bell choir.  I am the organist and pianist for all church services.  I work closely with the Pastor to make sure the music relates to the liturgy.  I have organized and performed in special concerts held at the church.  In 2002, I organized a concert featuring the music by Franz Liszt.  This concert featured solo piano works and an unusual and unknown choral work by Liszt.

·      The Franz Liszt concert I organized was a benefit concert to raise money to pay for the drilling of water wells for disadvantaged people in third-world countries.

·      I organized a concert to raise money for the new Baldwin concert grand piano the church recently purchased.  The piano was a great addition to the church because it replaced a poor quality instrument the church used for many years.

·      I presented a classical organ concert prior to the Christmas Eve service in 2003.  I performed works by J. S. Bach and other composers from the baroque period.  This concert featured the beautiful Paul Fritz pipe organ in the church.

·      Gethsemane Lutheran Church is a leader in Seattle providing social services to the homeless and disadvantaged people in the downtown Seattle area.  I am proud to be apart of the church's ministerial outreach.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Owner                                                                                                    1998 - Present

DGB Records                                                            Seattle, WA

In 1998, I decided to form my own classical recording label.  I have recorded three classical piano recordings.  "Nightmare" was my first recording.  This was an exercise in the process of recording.  Next was "David Barela Romantic Piano."  This is my favorite recording thus far.  My most recent recording is of a piano work by Franz Liszt entitled "Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses."  This cycle of ten pieces is one of Liszt's most unusual and unknown works for the piano.  DGB Records was not only a vehicle for my own recording, but a study in the art and discipline of the business of music.  Schools do not teach the business of music.  I would like, based on what I have learned, to teach a class at the college level dealing with the many problems and challenges involved in the business of music.

Musical Director                                                                                      1989 - 1994

Valley Presbyterian Church                                        Green Valley, AZ

At the time I began my Doctorial studies at the University of Arizona, I accepted the position of musical director at Valley Presbyterian Church.  Valley Presbyterian is a large Presbyterian church located in the retirement community of Green Valley, Arizona.  My duties included directing the choirs and bell choirs.  I was the primary organist for the church.  I supervised the professional musicians.  I gave many solo and ensemble concerts while at this church.

                                                                                                             1970 - 1989

Church Organist and Choral Conductor                       

In 1970, when I began my college career, I accepted my first position as organist and musical director in a Catholic church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The church has not only provided me with a steady source of income, but it has allowed me to exercise my Christian faith at the same time. Sacred music has been the unifying musical force in my life.   

EDUCATION

Post Masters                                                                                         

University of Arizona                                                Tucson, Arizona

After completing my Master's degree at the University of New Mexico, I enrolled into the Doctor of Musical Arts program at the University of Arizona, with a full fellowship, to study piano with Prof. Ozan Marsh.  I completed approximately sixty hours toward this degree.  I was a teaching assistant at the University.

My duties included teaching piano and musical theory to undergraduates.

M.A., Piano                                                                                            1989

University of New Mexico                                          Albuquerque, New Mexico

I completed my Master's degree majoring in piano performance and accompanying.  I accompanied many student recitals in addition to presenting the required solo recitals for the degree.  I studied with Prof. George Roberts, Mr. Ralph Berkowitz, and I traveled to Tucson to take lessons from my primary piano teacher, Prof. Ozan Marsh.  For two years, I was a teaching assistant at the University of New Mexico. I taught piano and accompanied undergraduate and graduate music majors.

B.A., Piano and Voice                                                                             1987

University of New Mexico                                          Albuquerque, New Mexico

I spent five years studying at the University of Arizona with a full scholarship.  I majored in voice under the tutelage of Dr. Igor Gorin.   I finish my Bachelors degree at the University of New Mexico.  I completed this degree with a full scholarship.   My focus was piano and voice.   During my undergraduate days, the study of organ, dance, and acting played a major role in my training program.

B.A., Voice                                                                                           

University of Arizona                                                Tucson, Arizona

I studied with the great baritone Igor Gorin at the University of Arizona for five years.  Mr. Gorin was the greatest mentor of my life.  I not only studied voice under Mr. Gorin, all the time dreaming of becoming a professional singer, but I was also Mr. Gorin’s studio accompanist.  I spent many hours listening to Mr. Gorin teach.  He, in addition to my piano teacher, Prof. Ozan Marsh, who was a colossal concert pianist and teacher, shaped me into the musician I am today.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Piano

I began studying the piano when I was four years old.  When I was a young boy, I remember playing a recording of the second piano concerto by Rachmaninoff.  I dreamed of playing that concerto one day myself.  My dream came true when I performed the concerto under the direction of my teacher, Professor Ozan Marsh, at the University of Arizona.  I have studied with many teachers.  Mr. Marsh was by far the greatest. 

I have performed many solo piano recitals.  I have also performed as an accompanist for both singers and instrumentalists.  I have recorded three CDs of piano music in conjunction with the DGB Record label.  I have plans to make several new recordings, one featuring my own compositions. 

Teaching piano has played a major role in my musical life.  I have received much personal satisfaction from teaching piano to gifted students. 

The University of New Mexico chose me to represent the music school in a master class conducted by the concert pianist, Andre Watts. 

Voice

The first time I heard the sound of a great voice I was completely entranced.  I decided to major in voice when I entered college.  I studied with many fine teachers and vocal coaches.  My first voice teachers were Jane Snow and Susanne Fisher in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I studied with Sebastian Engelberg and Max Walmer in New York City. The greatest teacher I worked with was Igor Gorin.  I studied with Mr. Gorin for five years at the University of Arizona.

I made my professional operatic debut with the Arizona Opera Company in 1977 in the role of Alidoro in Rossini's opera Cinderella.  I have been the bass soloist in many opera, oratorio, and concert performances.  I was the first place winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition.  I made my professional recital debut in San Francisco in 1978 sponsored by a concert association in San Francisco. 

I have taught and coached many student and professional singers.  I was a soloist with the New Mexico Opera Company and the Arizona Opera Company.  I was a professional singer for two seasons with the Santa Fe Dessert Choral.

DGB Records

In 1998, I made my first recording called Nightmare.  It was after completing that project that I decided to form my own classical record label known as DGB Records.  DGB Records was the catalyst to learn the workings of the music business.  I have now completed two more recordings.  I have international distribution in association with the Eroica Classical Record Label.  Read my reviews at my website, www.dgbrecords.com.  .

Organ

In 1970, I obtained my first position as a church organist in a Catholic church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I am a church organist to this day.  I have studied organ at the University of New Mexico and the University of Arizona.  I studied with Professor Robert Clark at Arizona State University.  I am currently the organist and choir director at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Seattle, Washington.

Acting and Musical Theater

I began studying acting at the University of New Mexico in order to become a more convincing opera singer.  I went on to study acting at the University of Arizona.  I have acted in many stage and musical theater productions in addition to operatic roles.  I now enjoy coaching singers in the dramatic interpretation of the vocal repertory.

Dance

I first began to study dance at the University of New Mexico in order to become a better stage performer.  I went on to study ballet with Professor George Zorrich at the University Arizona.  I was a professional member of the Southwest Ballet Company from 1980 to 1984.  As a member of the Southwest Ballet Company, I was a dancer with the Four Corners Opera Company.  I was also a dancer with the New Mexico Opera.

Conducting

I began conducting in 1970 when I accepted my first musical position with a church in Albuquerque.  The majority of my conducting has been in a religious setting.  I currently conduct the choirs at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Seattle, Washington.  I was the musical director for the Miss Universe Pageant in 1989.  I was assistant conductor for a production of Steven Sondheim's Follies at the University of New Mexico.  I also assisted in the conducting of Bernstein's Mass and Candide at the University of New Mexico.  I was the conductor and musical director for a national tour of Dickens' Christmas Carol.   In 1989, I was the musical director for La Compania de Albuquerque, a professional Hispanic theater company located in Albuquerque, in an original production called Nuevo New Mexico Si!  I conducted several ballets for the Southwest Ballet Company in 1984.

LICENSES

·     Owner - DGB Records, Seattle, Washington, 1998. I am the owner of the classical record label known as DGB Records.  I have recorded three CDs thus far.  I have international distribution with Eroica Records and Amazon.com.  I own and maintain a professional website at www.dgbrecords.com.  At my Website, you may read reviews of my recordings.

HONORS

·     I was the recipient of full tuition scholarships to attend both the University of New Mexico and the University of Arizona.  I was the first to receive the Igor Gorin Scholarship.  I received a full fellowship to attend the University of Arizona's Doctor of Musical Arts program to study piano under the direction of Professor Ozan Marsh.  In 1990, I was the first place winner in the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition in Arizona.

VOLUNTEER

I take great pride in donating many hours to the training of gifted musicians, free of charge.  I received much of my training thanks to scholarships.  I, therefore, derive much personal satisfaction from donating my time and knowledge to help talented people achieve their personal musical goals, regardless of their ability to pay.

RECENT PERFORMANCES

December 2003, Christmas Eve Organ Recital, Gethsemane Lutheran Church

May 2003, Accompanied senior trumpet recital, University of Washington

July 2002, Der Frieschütz by Carl Maria Weber, Seattle Opera Company

July 2001, Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner, Seattle Opera Company

March 2001, Piano Recital-Music by Liszt, Gethsemane Lutheran Church

May 2004, Director of “Feel the Spirit” by John Rutter at Gethsemane Lutheran Church

Regarding the DGB Records website for 2004: "This site has been voted TOP music site by the So Musical! Music directory! A fine example of what a high quality web site should be!"

PERSONAL REFERENCES

Available upon request