Page 137 - CJJan24

2024 ACDA Eastern Region Conference February 28 - March 2, 2024 Providence, Rhode Island

Friday Night Concert twentieth century, including Robert Shaw, Sir Nevelle
Mariner, and Donald Neuen.

Morgan State University Choir
A Cappella and Vocal Jazz Showcase

Berklee College of Music
Advanced Vocal Jazz Ensemble

The Morgan State University Choir (MSUC) has
performed around the world to critical acclaim. Named
“Best College Choir” in 2004 by Reader’s Digest maga-
zine, the Choir has performed with many symphony
orchestras, including The Philadelphia, Chicago, New The Berklee College of Music Advanced Vocal Jazz
York, National, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras. Ensemble has performed at the 2016 ACDA Eastern
Eric Conway, Director, has had many significant choir Region Conference and the Jazz Education Network
performances during his tenure, including singing for (JEN) Conferences in 2014, 2020, and 2023. The en-
the Rosa Parks Memorial Service in 2004 and perform- semble is a frequent winner of the DownBeat Student
ing for President Barack Obama during his Live at the Music Awards Small and Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble
White House Series in 2015. Last summer, the choir divisions.
toured Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.
Ned J. Rosenblatt currently holds the
Eric Conway is the director of the Mor- position of professor in the voice depart-
gan State University Choir and the chair- ment at the Berklee College of Music
person of Morgan’s Fine and Performing in Boston, Massachusetts. Rosenblatt
Arts Department. As director, he has trav- earned a BME from the University of
elled all over the world, including perfor- Connecticut, Storrs, and a master’s degree in jazz
mances in Austria, South Africa, Cuba, and Australia. pedagogy from the Berklee College of Music and The
Conway is a doctoral graduate of The Peabody Con- Boston Conservatory. Rosenblatt currently directs four
servatory, where he majored in piano and conducting Vocal Jazz Ensembles, traditional Concert Choir, and
and received the prestigious Liberace scholarship. As has been recently serving as music director on various
a pianist, he has appeared in the U.S. and abroad as Boston Conservatory Musical Theater department
a soloist and chamber musician. He served as orches- productions. Rosenblatt frequently serves as a conduc-
tral pianist for the Baltimore Symphony for over ten tor, adjudicator, and clinician for classical, jazz, and
years. Conway’s choral accomplishments include work- show choir festivals.
ing closely with some of the greatest conductors of the

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5 135