Distinguished Concerts International - New York

Matthew Oltman joins Distinguished Concerts International New York

Music Director Emeritus of Chanticleer Joins DCINY's Program Development Team

June 4, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY .... Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) is delighted to welcome Matthew Oltman to the company's Program Development team.

Throughout his career as a singer, conductor and educator, and as Music Director Emeritus of the Grammy award-winning male vocal ensemble Chanticleer, Matthew Oltman has experienced the profound impact of music on both performer and listener. During his tenure, Mr. Oltman led Chanticleer through three-critically acclaimed seasons, which included over 300 concerts in more than a dozen countries. He helped launch the Chanticleer Live in Concert or "CLIC" recording label, and was the editor of the Chanticleer Choral Series, published by Hinshaw Music. He also conducted over 450 high school choral and orchestral students from across the country in Chanticleer's first National Youth Choral Festival, The Singing Life, and led numerous day-long Youth Choral Festivals in communities in several states.

"DCINY is thrilled to have Matt on board," says Iris Derke, General Director and Co-Founder, "He is uniquely positioned to connect with fine programs from around the world and to further DCINY's mission of quality programming, education and exquisite memories for all involved."

"DCINY is a company whose core values I have long admired," says Oltman, continuing, "DCINY concerts are a once-in-a-lifetime experience for singers. In addition to being a part of a spectacular performance, they get to meet other talented musicians from across the globe who share their passion for singing and making music. I know first-hand how life changing this can be, and I am thrilled that I will get to spend my time enabling highly dedicated and motivated choirs to experience something unforgettable."

Oltman will join DCINY starting immediately from his current home in San Francisco and will relocate to New York City in September.

Matthew Oltman first joined Chanticleer in 1999 as a tenor and in 2004 was named Assistant Music Director under Joseph Jennings, a post which he held until his appointment to Music Director in 2009. During his decade singing with the ensemble, he appeared on twelve albums and toured extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia. During the 2011-2012 academic year, Mr. Oltman served as Guest Director of Choral Activities at UC Berkeley where he conducted the University Choir and the University Chamber Singers. Recently, he was a featured clinician at the first Anuna International Choral Summer School (Ireland) and has led countless clinics and master classes with choirs from across the globe. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Matthew Oltman earned a B.M. in Vocal Performance from Simpson College and an M.A. in Music from the University of York in England with the aid of a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. Before joining Chanticleer, Mr. Oltman sang with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale and was on the faculty of Simpson College where he taught harmony, French diction, choral techniques and voice.

Founded by Iris Derke (General Director) and Jonathan Griffith (Artistic Director and Principal Conductor) Distinguished Concerts International New York is driven by passion, innovative vision, a total belief in its artists, and unwavering commitment to bringing forth unforgettable audience experiences. DCINY is a creative producing entity with unmatched integrity that is a talent incubator, a star-maker, and a presenter of broadly accessible, world-class musical entertainment.