Professional Title/s
Assistant ProfessorFaculty Credentials
B.S., Indiana University Jacobs School of Music; M.M., Pennsylvania State University; D.M.A., University of Wisconsin – MadisonBiographical Information
Michael Dolan is Assistant Professor of Music at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, US, serving as Music Director of the Allegheny College Civic Orchestra, String Area Coordinator, and teaching courses in the music curriculum. A highlight of working with the College’s orchestra, he commissioned and premiered a solo work for a graduating senior, the Concertino for Double Bass and Orchestra composed by Rick Robinson. He earned his DMA in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music under Dr. Oriol Sans and Dr. Chad Hutchinson. While there he was a Teaching Assistant in both the School of Music and Department of Communication Arts, founding Music Director of the Medical Sciences Orchestra of the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and conducted a professional recording of new compositions for jazz quintet and string orchestra by Johannes Wallmann. He assisted both the University Symphony Orchestra and Opera, performing with both groups. After completing his degree, Michael was invited by the University of Wisconsin Summer Music Clinic to conduct a high school senior orchestra and teach music theory.
His Master’s in Orchestral Conducting was earned under Gerardo Edelstein at the Pennsylvania State University School of Music. There he assisted the Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras as well as the opera program and conducted the Viola Ensemble; with that group he conducted his first professional recording: new compositions for viola ensemble by Scott Slapin. His undergraduate work was completed at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he received conducting instruction, both in the wind and choral departments, from Dr. William Jon Gray, Dr. Michael Schwartzkopf, and Dr. Paul Popiel. He served as Assistant Conductor of the Terre Haute Youth Symphony Orchestra while an undergraduate. He also studied voice with James King, Alice Hopper, and Dr. Michael Gordon.
Michael has attended workshops led by noted conducting instructors Kenneth Kiesler, Donald Schleicher, Donald Portnoy, Adrian Gnam, Philip Greenberg, Markand Thakar, and Diane Wittry with performances in New Hampshire, Los Angeles, Atlanta, South Carolina, and San Diego. He has held professional positions as Co-Conductor of the Spring Valley Concert Band in Schaumburg, IL, Director of Music at St. Cornelius Catholic Church in Chicago, IL, and Choir Director of Faith United Church of Christ in State College, PA. His musical and research interests include the rediscovery, promotion, and performance of US American music and musicians.