Philip D. Tappan
Music
A Short Biography
Philip Tappan, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army (MM orchestral conducting, State University of NY at Fredonia; BA music composition, Messiah College; BM music education SUNY Fredonia), has held the post of Graduate Assistant of Orchestras at SUNY Fredonia and has held engagements with Rocky Ridge Music Center, the West Shore Symphony Orchestra, the Messiah College Symphony Orchestra, Capitol Opera Harrisburg, and the Trinity Episcopal Church Choir. Philip has previously studied conducting with Dr. David Rudge, Dr. Timothy Dixon, Murray Sidlin & Colin Metters and has also worked and studied with the late British mezzo, Deliah Wallis (voice/opera). Philip currently works for the US Army Bands as a pianist and in 2015 will become a commissioned band officer and conductor.
"Do not take up music unless you would rather die than not do so."
-Nadia Boulanger
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Curriculum Vitae
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EDUCATION
2011-2012 Bachelor of Music in Music Education
State University of New York at Fredonia (Fredonia, New York)
2008-2010 Masters of Music in Orchestral Conducting Performance
State University of New York at Fredonia (Fredonia, New York)
Conducting Professor: Dr. David Rudge
2003-2007 Bachelor of Arts in music with a composition concentration
Messiah College (Grantham, Pennsylvania), with one semester
abroad at the University of Glouchestershire, Cheltenham, UK
Conducting Professor: Dr. Timothy Dixon
Composition Professor: Dr. Dwight W. Thomas
2006 Coursework in orchestral conducting
Catholic University of America (Washington, DC)
Conducting Professor: Murray Sidlin
2002-2003 Undergraduate coursework in music composition
Catholic University of America (Washington, DC)
Composition Professor: Dr. Anthony Stark
Conducting Professor: Dr. Leo Nester
CONDUCTING POSTS HELD
2015 Associate Conductor, 1st Cavalry Division Band, Killeen, Texas
2013-2015 Guest Conductor, 2nd Infantry Division Band, Uijungbou,
Republic of Korea
2012 Orchestra and Choir Conductor/Director, Junior Student
Seminar 2, Rocky Ridge Music Center, Estes Park, Colorado
2008-2010 Opera Scenes Conductor, Student Opera/Theatre Association
2012 State University of New York at Fredonia
· Music Director: Magic Flute, Mozart; Tales of Hoffman,
Offenbach; Fidelio, Beethoven.
2008-2010 Graduate Assistant of Orchestras and Orchestral Conducting,
State University of New York at Fredonia
· Music Director: Sinfonia (training orchestra).
Assistant conductor: College Symphony Orchestra,
Chamber Orchestra and Hillman Opera.
· Taught 3-credit hours/semester of undergraduate
conducting.
· Wrote program notes, compiled programs, oversaw
librarian duties, organized semesterly composer readings,
etc.
2009 Choir Director of Trinity Episcopal Church (Fredonia, NY)
· Chose, rehearsed and directed music for weekly services.
· Resources included a paid choir, organist and a small
budget for extra instrumentalists on holy days.
· Budgeted choir expenses.
2006-2008 Assistant Conductor, West Shore Symphony Orchestra
(central Pennsylvania)
· Conducted family concerts.
· Led rehearsals when director was absent.
· Wrote program notes.
· Conducted one half season when director was on a
sabbatical.
2007 Substitute Orchestra Conductor, Messiah College
· Led rehearsals when director was absent.
2007 Resident Conductor, Capitol Opera Harrisburg (Pennsylvania)
· Conducted and directed a company of young professionals
(lead roles) and amateurs (chorus).
2005 Interim Church Music Director, New Horizons Church
(Saratoga Springs, NY)
CONDUCTING WORKSHOPS
2015 Anthony Maiello, TRADOC Band, FT Eustis, VA
2015 Dr. Dennis Zeisler, The band at FT Lee, Richmond, VA
2015 Dr. Jack Stamp, The United States Army Band, FT Myer,
Arlington, VA
2015 Diane Wittry, Baton Basics, Norwalk, CT
EDUCATIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
2012 Student Teacher, Middle School Band and General Music,
Dunkirk Middle School, Dunkirk, NY
2010-2011 Volunteer Teacher, English as a second language
Ministry of Education, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia
2011 Lecturer for American Embassy, Tbilisi Georgia.
Presented the lecture '20th Century American Classical Music' at
American Corners in Tbilisi, Rustavi, Telavi and the State
Consertatoire.
2008-2010 Lecturer of Basic Conducting, State University of New York at
Fredonia
2009 Presented 2, 40 minute seminars entitled “Created and Creative”
at EXCEL 2009, a youth conference sponsored by Youth For
Christ.
2008-2009 Private Vocal Instructor
2008 Guest Lecturer, Messiah College, PA
Presented the lecture “Czech Nationalism and 19th Century
Western Theory” to an upper level music theory classroom.
2008 Private Beginning Piano Instructor
2007-2008 Substitute Teacher, Saratoga Springs City School District, NY
K-12, all subject areas, mostly music
2005 Music Theory Teaching Assistant, Messiah College
2005 Private Trumpet Instructor
2005 Lecturer, Saratoga Springs Public Library
Presented a lecture to the youth division on ways to engage in
music through rock, folk, and jazz bands.
RELATED MUSICAL PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
2013 Pianist for the US Army bands, E-4 Specialist.
2003-2012 Freelance Jazz/Legit Pianist; weddings, church services,
receptions, coffee houses, etc.
2010 Recital, A Fredonia Farewell, performing a plethora of repertoire
on piano, voice, euphonium, harpsichord and original
compositions
2009 Masters conducting recital, SUNY Fredonia, Sinfonia Orchestra
Mozart, Vieuxtemps, Bizet/Shchedrin
2008 Paid Chorister, St. Paul's Cathedral (Buffalo, NY),
Trinity Episcopal Church (Fredonia, NY)
2006-2009 Saratoga Springs High School Musical Club Cabaret Benefit,
vocalist
2006 Freelance Choir Vocalist, Washington D.C.
2006 Senior Recital, Messiah College, music composition
2005 International Tuba and Euphonium Association,
Northeast Conference Tuba-Euphonium All-Star Ensemble,
euphonium 3rd chair, West Point, NY
2004 Junior Recital, Messiah College, euphonium
2003 Saratoga Springs High School, Graduation Orchestra,
performance of original composition Ceremonious Recessional
and Hymn
2002 Saratoga Springs High School production of Meet Me in St. Louis,
male lead
2002 Senior Recital, Saratoga Springs High School;
voice, organ, euphonium
2001-2002 City of Saratoga Springs First Night Celebration,
musical artist, Piano & Vocals in Shades of Blue rock band
2001 Saratoga Springs High School production of State Fair, male lead
2001 New York State Music Association All-State Conference,
Vocal Jazz Ensemble, baritone
2000 Saratoga Springs High School production of The Wiz, male lead
2000-2001 Entertainer, Six Flags Great Escape/ JRW Productions
Production ‘Real Country’ male lead
1999-2001 Empire State Youth Chorale, baritone/bass
1999-2002 Hartwick Summer Music Festival, student participant
1999 New York City Ballet, stage extra
AWARDS
2015 Distinguished Honor Graduate, Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia
2013 Distinguished Honor Graduate, Lieutenant Colonel Esch,
US Army School of Music
2009-2010 Service Award, School of Music, SUNY Fredonia
2008-2010 Graduate Assistant of Orchestras and Orchestral Conducting,
SUNY Fredonia
2003-2004 Dwight W. Thomas New Music Award
2002 John Philip Sousa Band Award
1998 Peer Mediation Training Recognition
1997 Community Partners in Education Service Award
INTERNSHIPS
2005 Assistant to the Conductor, West Shore Symphony Orchestra
(central Pennsylvania), under direction of Dr. Timothy Dixon
2004 Assistant to the Associate Pastor, Grace Chapel, Jonesville, NY;
also involved with church music.
2000-2001 Clerk, Saratoga Springs Music Center
(sheet music and supply shop)
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION (received)
Conducting: Dr. David Rudge, Colin Metters, Dr. Timothy Dixon,
Murry Sidlin, Dr. Leo Nester
Piano: Carol Carroll, Ya Ting Chang, Dr. Ivo Kaltchev
Continuo: Fr. Sean Duggan
Composition: Dr. Anthony Stark, Dr. Dwight W. Thomas
Organ: Farrell Goering, Sean Gingrich
Jazz/ Jazz Piano: Peg Delany, Mark Cook, Kirk Reese, Lee Shaw, Helen Sung (in workshop), Tim Warfield
Euphonium: Gil Corela, Eric Henry
Voice: Delia Wallis, Dr. Gene Ford, Russell Penney
Film Scoring: Maurice Saylor
VOLUNTEER WORK
2013 Volunteer ESL Teacher, Republic of Korea, Uijungbu
2010-2011 Volunteer Teacher, English as a second language
Ministry of Education, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia
2003-2009 Youth for Christ
Excel Conferences: Audio and light engineer 2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2008, 2009 (run audio production, lighting, set up,
tear down as needed. Also give lectures and seminars such as
“Created and Creative.”)
Inside Out Soul Festival: Production crew: 2003, 2004
2002-2003 Young Life
Summer Staff: August 2003
Part of High Ropes Course Team
Youth Leader: 2002
2002-2004 Equitability, Disabled equestrian riding facility
2011
COLLIGIATE ENSEMBLE PARTICIPATION
State University of New York at Fredonia:
Sinfonia Training Orchestra: Conductor
Hillman Opera: Assistant Conductor
College Symphony Orchestra: Assistant Conductor, Celeste
Chamber Orchestra: Assistant Conductor, Harpsichord
The Improve Collective: Professor's Assistant
Student Opera and Theatre Association: Music Director
Fredonia Jazz Ensemble Combo: Pianist
Gypsy Jazz Group: Accordion
Fredonia Tuba-Euphonium Quartet: Euphonium
Catholic University of America:
Cardinal Composers Society, composer
Chamber Choir, baritone/bass
Concert Choir, baritone/bass
Pep Band, euphonium
Wind Ensemble, euphonium
Jazz Band, piano
Messiah College:
Musica Nova Committee, composer
Tuba Ensemble, euphonium
Pit Orchestra, euphonium
Graduation Band, euphonium
Pep Band, euphonium
Messiah College Singers, baritone/bass and arranger
Brass Ensemble, euphonium
Jazz Combo, piano
Jazz Band, piano
Wind Ensemble, euphonium
Opera Workshop, baritone
AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
*References
*List of Compositions