Melinda O'Neal

'''Melinda O'Neal''' is a conductor of choral and choral-orchestral music, professor emerita of music, and author.

O'Neal was music director and conductor of the Handel Society of Dartmouth College (oratorio society of 100 student and community voices) 1979–2004, and founder and conductor of Dartmouth College Chamber Singers (30-voices) 1979-1996. She was professor of music at Dartmouth College 1979–2018, leading ensembles and teaching courses in conducting, vocal literature, Berlioz and Brahms, and music theory.

In 2016 and 2017 O'Neal taught choral literature courses for conducting graduate students at Indiana University. She was visiting professor at Towson University (MD) 2005, Indiana University 1999, and University of Georgia 1996-97.

As an independent conductor, O'Neal was artistic director and conductor of Handel Choir of Baltimore 2004-2013, inaugurating both the Handel Period Instrument Orchestra and Chandos Singers. She co-founded and led the Boston Vocal Artists' Sonique from 2003-2005, served as principal guest conductor of the Hanover Chamber Orchestra 1991-2004, and was guest conductor-in-residence in 1995 of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra Chorale to prepare Berlioz's ''La Damnation de Faust''. As chorus master for Monadnock Music Festival in Wilton, NH 1994-96, she prepared performances of Gluck’s ''Orphée et Eurydice'' with period instruments, and Virgil Thompson’s ''The Mother of Us All'', conducted by James Bolle. O'Neal was founder and chorus master of the New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra Chorus, preparing performances of Berlioz’s ''Grande messe des morts'', Busoni’s Piano Concerto Op. 39, Verdi’s Requiem, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, conducted by James Bolle in Manchester, NH, 1984-1987.

In 2018 O'Neal wrote Experiencing Berlioz: A Listener’s Companion (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield), an in-depth entrée into the music world of Hector Berlioz that is crafted for both listeners and performers alike. An online addendum offers texts and translations to vocal music discussed: https://www.melindaoneal.net/texts-translations/. Recently she presented the lecture “Mélodies Fantastiques! — Mystique and Narrative in Berlioz’s Vocal Music” for Opera Prelude, Cadogan Hall, London, United Kingdom. November 26, 2019. Provided by Wikipedia