Faculty: Conducting

Mrs. Nevilla E. Ottley, M.Mus.....

who holds her Masters of Music conducting degree from the Catholic University of America having studied

• instrumental conducting with the late Prof. Lloyd Geisler, trumpeter and associate conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra and
• choral conducting with the late Prof. Laura Jeanette Wells.
  
• orchestral conducting and symphonic performance with Maestro Herbert Blomstedt and
  
• with Maestro Robert Page,
  
• with a cameo (20 minute) lesson from Maestro Lorin Maazel on Beethoven's "Fidelio"
• choral conducting with the late Prof.Evelyn Davidson White, and
  
• undergraduate conducting withProfessor Bruce Olson.  

Mrs. Ottley-Adjahoe teaches the techniques of conducting both choir and orchestra. Over the years she has taught several several successful conductors, some of the most recent are:

• Mr. Anwar Ottley, B.Mus., son of Dr. Myron Ottley. Anwar was the original conductor of the Takoma Academy Gospel Choir, the founder and director of the Columbia Union College Black Student Union Chorale, giving 4 annual concerts of music of Black Composers from the Renaissance to the Present Day to large audiences at Takoma Park and Sligo SDA Churches. Anwar graduated with a B.Mus. in organ performance, and is currently working on a M.Mus. in conducting at Andrews University in Michigan.
• K. Scott Barker, former Conductor for 10 years of the D.C. Different Drummers' Capitol Pride Symphonic Band. His goal was to conduct in an orchestral style versus band style.
  
• Dr. Myron S. Ottley, Conductor of the world-travelled and recording artists, The MetroSingrers of Hyattsville, and formerly director of the SoulsSeekers of Takoma Park, Maryland , also recorded artists.
• Mr. Alva N. Davis, Music Director of the famed St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church of Washington, D.C., pianist of Gospel and Jazz, and directs the Red Skins Christmas Party Bands annually.

Over the decades Ms. Ottley has conducted such orchestras as:

• Hyattsville Symphonny (formerly the University Park Symphony), a community and school orchestra (2001-present)
• Montgomery Symphony Orchestra (2000-2002)
• Takoma Park Symphony Orchestra (1987-1995) (which she co-founded with neighbor, Dr. Ellen Bunyan),and premiered several works of local composers
  

...and such choruses as

• MetroSingers of Hyattsville (guest conductor)
• Kennedy Center Annual Messiah Sing-Along, Washington, D. C. USA (1995)
  
• Arlington Metropolitan Chorus, Arlington, Virginia (guest conductor)
  
• Cleveland Singers (formerly the Robert Page Singers, 1993), Cleveland, Ohio (guest conductor)
  
• World Bank/IMF Choral Society and Orchestra, Washington, D. C. (Music Director from 1983-1987)
  
• The Nevilla Ottley Singers, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and on tour in South Dakota and in the island nation of Barbabos (founder and Music Director from 1981-1998)
• Former Paul Hill Chorale (co-conducted a concert of music of Black Composers with Paul Hill)
  
• Several Church choirs from 1971-present

Mrs. Ottley tailors her lessons to the goals, needs, and level of expertise of each student in preparation for work in conducting. Students are given opportunity to practice their skill with a small ensemble and later with the Hyattsville Symphony, first in the monthly recitals, and later as they develop, in public performances. Students are given opportuniity to put their skills to use in gigs, and later are shown how to research for permanent positions.

ANWAR GABRIEL MYRON OTTLEY, M.Mus.....

ANWAR GABRIEL MYRON OTTLEY, M. Mus., Pianist, Organist is a product of the Ottley Music School where he took piano lessons with his aunt, Nevilla Ottley since he was in elementary school. In his senior year of high school, after conducting successfully the Takoma Academy Gospel Choir (a talent he inherited from his father, Dr. Myron Ottley), he was transferred as a scholarship student for his senior year to Pine Forge Academy where he studied piano under Toni Hall and conducting with Jason Ferdinand. He was a four-year scholarship student at Columbia Union College, where for the first two years he focused on Music Education, then switched to organ performance, graduating in May 2007. He also sang with the world-traveled Pro Musica of CUC under Dr. James Bingham. In the meantime, for four years, he conducted the 35-voice Black Student Union Chorale in command performances of music of Black Composers from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic to the present day, a cappella or with symphony orchestra and/or with band.

He also serves as assistant conductor and accompanist to the world-traveled MetroSingers of Metropolitan Seventh-day Adventist Church (Kenya, Holland, England and around the USA) which besides 3 CDs and a DVD have recorded a concert with the satellite station, 3ABN (3 Angels Broadcast Network). Mr. Ottley is working on his Masters of Miusic at Andrews University in Michigan, and will graduate in May 2009. Photo by Nevilla E. Ottley (2005).