The musical career of Gerald
Eskelin is multi-faceted, spanning five decades of conducting, singing, composing,
writing, and teaching. He has received two Grammy nominations for recordings
by the L.A. Jazz Choir, which he founded in 1980. The group has performed and/or
recorded with such notables as Rosemary Clooney, Steve Allen, and Al Jarreau.
The Gerald Eskelin Singers have been featured in a number of German television
series, performing there with many well-known performers such as Glen Campbell,
Frank Sinatra Jr., Herb Jefferies, and Tex Beneke. They have performed on various
recording projects, most recently Amazonia, a work by Bebu Silvetti, dedicated
to the preservation of the Rainforest. Additionally, the singers have recorded
choral demos for a number of music publishers.
Dr. Eskelin recently retired from his position on the music faculty of Pierce
College in Woodland Hills, California. Prior to his thirty-year tenure there,
he taught at the University of Southern California and California Institute
of the Arts. He has conducted both choral and instrumental ensembles and is
equally at home in both classical and popular musical genres.
The Century City/Beverly Hills/Nashville/New York legal community regularly
utilizes his expertise in regard to music copyright infringement. He has testified
in court
on behalf of John Fogerty, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, the Isley Brothers,
the Spin Doctors and "Roger Rabbit" composer Allan Sylvestri. Industry
firms that have consulted him in musical matters include Warner Brothers
Studios,
Disney Studios, EMI Music Publishers, Jobete Music, and Warner Chappell. Advertising
agencies have sought his advice on behalf of such clients as Macdonald's,
Sizzler,
Mattel, Wheaties, California Lottery, and many others. He has provided musicological
services for many celebrated musical performers, including Madonna, Elton
John,
Lionel Richie, Tom Petty, Janet Jackson, ZZ Top and many more.
Eskelin's book “Lies My Music Teacher Told Me,“ now in its second edition,
is a light-hearted expose of some suspicious concepts which have been unquestioningly
handed down from one generation to the next. His most recent book, The Sounds
Of Music: Perception And Notation, describes in simple terms how music works
and includes recorded illustrations on a CD. Based on the premise that one
should understand the sounds of music before learning to write it, the book
has been
described by one reviewer as having "the capacity to revolutionize the
way music fundamentals are taught." Dr. Eskelin's Natural Ear Training
is a teaching aid based on the concepts described in Sounds. His most recent
literary
effort is "Components Of Vocal Blend," in which he
shares his unique concepts for creating the sounds that earned him an international
reputation
for choral excellence.
EDUCATION:
- Doctor of Music Education, 1973, Indiana University. Majors in Conducting
and Philosophy/Aesthetics; minors in Conducting and Music Theory.
- Master of Arts, 1962, Indiana University. Major in Music Theory; minor in
Philosophy/Aesthetics.
- Bachelor of Arts, 1958, Florida Southern College. Major in Music; minor in
English.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
- Director, L.A. Jazz Choir, 1980 - 1998.
- Director, Gerald Eskelin Singers, 1984 - 1995.
- Producer/Director, Stage 3 Enterprises Choral Recordings, 1980 - 1988.
- Director, Los Angeles Pops Chorale, 1987.
- Director, Valley Master Chorale, 1980 - 1987.
- Singer, free lance (studio, choral, opera, jingles, other) 1965 - 1990
- Clarinetist/Saxophonist, free lance (classical, commercial)1955 - 1965
EMPLOYMENT:
- Los Angeles Pierce College, Professor of Music, 1971 – 2002, Retired.
- University of Southern California, Associate Professor of Music, 1967 - 1971.
- California Institute of the Arts, Instructor In Music, 1966 - 1967.
- Vanguard University, Music Department Chairman, 1963 - 1966.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION:
- Choral conducting
- Vocal arranging
- Group vocal techniques
- Music theory and composition
- Ear training and sight singing
- Psychology of music
- Aesthetics
AWARDS:
- Grammy nomination, 1984 -- LISTEN
- Grammy nomination, 1986 -- FROM ALL SIDES
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