Dennis James Parnell

B.F.A./M.F.A. - vocal performance

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Education

1982 MFA - Cailfornia Institute of the Arts -

                    VocalPerformance    [minor-composition/conducting]

1981 BFA - California Institute of the Arts -

                         VocalPerformace

Distinguished Teachers with whom Mr.Parnell has studied;

• Louis Graveure, William Feuerstein, Seth Riggs, Neyneen Farrell Pires,
• Wayne Conners, John Guarnieri [voice] Gregg Smith, Noah Greenberg,
• Steven "Lucky" Mosko [conducting] Paul Maynard, Morton Subotnik,
• Mel Powell [composition].Cantorial studies with Cantor Samuel Kelemer
• and Cantor Samuel Radwein

Teaching Experience

1996 - current - Santa Monica College - Voice Classes:  Music Appreciation: History of Rock:
                           Applied Vocal Students : Applied Music Performance Class

1992 - 2015 - Voice Faculty - Los Angeles Pierce College

• 2000-2003 - Director - SMC Chamber Choir
• 1995- 2010 L.A. Pierce College - Director - Pierce College Choir: scholarship awardees: private voice lessons: Music Appreciation:
  Music director/choreographer for the musical "Carnival"
• Santa Monica College - Voice Classes A & B : instruct Applied Voice Students
• Santa Monica Emeritus College - conductor/ musical director for the choir- " The Merits"
• Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue - cantor and music director ( 7 yrs )
• First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood - music director ( 7 yrs )
• 1995- 96 Notre Dame H. S. - Drama and Music teacher
• 1992 Pierce College - Choir Director (sabbatical replacement)
• 1991-1992  Campbell Hall School: Choir Director:  music faculty and director of pop/jazz ensemble (continued thru 1995) 
• 1990- 1995 Los Angeles Pierce College - Class Voice and Applied Voice
• 1982- 91 Cal State University Fullerton, voice faculty
  (Courses Taught @ Cal State Fullerton)
• 101 Music for Non-majors (a very basic theory course)
• 193 493 Applied Voice
• 183 Class Voice
• 463 Vocal Pedagogy
• 465 Voice Workshop
• Summer Opera Workshop (extension)
• 1980 - 83 California Institute of the Arts - voice faculty
• 1983 - Director - Opera Workshop California Institute of the Arts
• 1981 - 1983 - Music Director - various shows for the Theater Dept.@ California Institute of the Arts
• 1980 - 1982 Songwriter's Resources Institute (teacher - songwriting &voice)
• 1977 - Walt Disney Studios - The New Mousketeers (teacher - voice)
• 1974 - 1977 Foundation for the Singing Voice (founder and president)
• 1969 - current -  Private voice studio

Radio Programs

• 2003 - The New Global Village
• 1975 - How About Fred (KCSN) [for Doug Ordunio]
• 1971 - 1975 - Global Village - KFAC - S.E. Award 1974
• 1974 - 1985 - Our American Musical Heritage - KFAC
• 1974 - 1976 Odyssey - KFAC

World Premiers

• 1983 - "The Black Theater of Hermes Trismegistos" by R. Murray Shafer - a theatrical / musical piece - Cal Arts Contemporary Arts Festival.                                                      (written for me to perform as a tenor, countertenor and as an actor.)
• 1984 - "Double Life of the Amphibians" by Morton Subotnik - Olympic Arts Festival
• 1988 - "Orpheus" by Lloyd Rodgers - Japan America Theater - an opera for solo countertenor and ballet.(also specifically written for me)
• 1996 - "Reggae Chanuka" at Skirball Cultural Center
• 1997 - "Reggae Passover" at California Institute of the Arts
• 2019 - "75 Years Of Song Part II" at The Broad Theater, Santa Monica

Movie Scores

• "Daystar" - documentary on Cal State Northridge's Solar Observatory
• "Women of Iron" - documentary on women's bodybuilding
• "AIDS - The Facts of Life" -winner - American Video Award
• "Rosemary" - pilot for television series "The Painted Word" based on the Edward Hopper painting "Nighthawk Cafe" (several awards)
• "As Your Parents Age" - industrial film for IBM
• "Getting Started in ATM" - industrial
• "The Android Walks" - interactive HD TV film for the Prefecture of Gifu in Japan. This film is a stand alone film (similar to "Captain Io @ Disneyland) which plays in its own special theater at the Softopia Center in Gifu.

Conducting Experience

The Intimate Opera Company (2002) (Music Director)

Cal Arts Opera Workshop; First Methodist Church, Los Angeles;

MTA State Convention "Acis and Galatea" (1984);

St Gregory's R.C. Church, Whittier (1988 - 90)

First United Methodist Church of Canoga Park (1990-1991);

First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood (1992- 2000)

Awards

Gladys Turck Awardee: Young Musicians Foundation Debut Award Finalist: Matinee Musical Award:

Full Tuition Scholarship - California Institute of the Arts;

Annual S.E Award (for Global Village);

Master of the Voice Award - American Institute of Fine Arts;

Euterpe Opera Award - three times;

Composition Award - Los Angeles City College;

Quarter Finalist - American Song Festival;

Publications

• The Ear Train - a musical interval training application
• Vocal-Ease - warm-up exercises for singers
• Tibetan and Mongolian Harmonic Singing as a basis for Bel Canto
• Three Songs of Emily Dickinson
• A New Catholic Mass"Rorate Coeli"
• "This is the Record of John" - a unison Advent Choral work
• "Ave Maria"
• Panis Angelicus
• Music for Shabbat
• Torah and Haftorah tropes for Bar and Bat Mitzvah students

Movies

Handel's "Acis and Galatea" - a full length animated feature - in process

CDs

• "Reggae Passover" - cantor/performer released in October 1996
• "Reggae Chanuka" - cantor /performer released in October 1999
• "Celebration" - Passover CD produced by Craig Tabuman - Dec 2000
• "The Celestine Prophesy " - Music by Christopher Franke - Gregorian Choir/choir director

Other

• Listening Editor and writer on Yamaha's
  Music In Education - this is a national music education program in place in hundreds of elementary school systems across the United States. I was responsible for selecting fifty percent of the eclectic listening selections on the two Cds and writing the "modules" which accompany the each of the selections. This is an extensive and excellent music instruction program, using keyboards and technology as well as tradtional methods to create knowledgeable and savvy young music students.
• Cantor for Pope John Paul's Los Angeles visit in 1987
• Former webmaster for Santa Monica College Music Department