The LMI welcomes new board members

Please join us at the Louis Moreau Institute in welcoming our two newest board members, Violist Lois Martin and Charles Taylor, Director of the School of the Arts at the University of New Orleans!

Lois Martin, a native of York, Penna., began her viola studies with Arthur Lewis at the Peabody Preparatory School. She completed her undergraduate work at the Eastman School of Music where she was a scholarship student of Francis Tursi. During this time, she was a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She continued her graduate studies at the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Lillian Fuchs.

Ms. Martin is a founding member of the Atlantic String Quartet, which is dedicated to the performance of newly written compositions. Her continuing commitment to contemporary music includes performances with the Group for Contemporary Music, ISCM Chamber Players, Ensemble Sospeso, Ensemble 21, New York New Music Ensemble, Speculum Musicae, Composersʻ Guild, Da Capo Chamber Players, Composers Forum and Steve Reich and Musicians.

On the Jazz and Popular circuit, she has performed with artists including Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Chris Potter, Ornette Coleman, Esperanza Spalding, String Fever, Shirley Bassey, Elton John, Paul Simon, Tyne Daley, Gil Goldstein, Don Alias, Richard Bona, and Mike Mainieri.

Currently, Ms. Martin is Principal Violist for the Stamford Symphony, OK Mozart Festival and The Little Orchestra Society. She is a member of the Orchestra of St. Lukeʼs, American Chamber Ensemble, and frequently appears with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and New York City Ballet Orchestra. Ms. Martin is also on the faculty of the Composersʼ Conference at Wellesley College and has taught at Princeton University.

Including her recording of the “Viola Variations”- her commission by Charles Wuorinen- Ms. Martin has recorded the works of over 50 contemporary composers She premiered the “Viola Variations” at Merkin Hall in New York in the fall of 2008 and also had the opportunity to play it at the Library of Congress in 2009 for Wuorinenʼs 70th birthday celebration.

Recent highlights include a world tour with Grammy Award recipient Esperanza Spalding.

 
Dr. Charles Taylor is Professor of Music and Director of the School of the Arts. Dr. Taylor holds the degrees Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Music Education and Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He studied conducting with Rodney Winther and Terence Milligan and clarinet with Carmine Campione and Emil Schmactenberg. Prior to his appointment at the University of New Orleans, Dr. Taylor taught middle school and high school instrumental music in Ohio. Dr. Taylor also serves as the conductor of the New Orleans Concert Band and the New Orleans Civic Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Taylor has been a guest conductor throughout the United States and Canada and a guest clinician at the Mid-West Clinic, the International Conference of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the Southern Division Conference of the College Band Directors National Association, and the Louisiana Music Educators Association. Under his direction, the New Orleans Concert Band performed at the National Convention of the Association of Concert Bands in Houston, Texas and the University of New Orleans Wind Ensemble performed at the Louisiana Music Educators Association State Conference. As an advocate for new music, Dr. Taylor has premiered over 50 works in various media and has worked collaboratively with many composers and performers, including Michael Torke, Steven Bryant, John Mackey, James Syler, Lisa Kaplan, Brad Garner, Mark Babbitt, and Helen Kim.

At UNO, Dr. Taylor teaches graduate and undergraduate theory and conducting; he additionally serves as the conductor of the New Orleans Civic Symphony Orchestra, the New Orleans Concert Band, and several new ensembles. He has presented sessions at the Mid-West Clinic, Southern Division Conference of the College Band Directors National Association, and the Louisiana Music Education Association.

Under his direction, the New Orleans Concert Band performed at the National Convention of the Association of Concert bands in Houston, Texas. He has served as guest conductor for ensembles in Louisiana, Ohio, Michigan, and New York. During the 2010-11 year, Dr. Taylor also served as Visiting Associate Professor at Louisiana State University, where he conducted the Wind Ensemble.
 

We are excited to have both Lois and Charles joining the Institute's board and look forward to their contributions to the organization moving forward.