Jeremiah Selvy is the current Artistic Director and Conductor for The Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus.
Mr Selvey comes to the Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus after serving as Guest Artistic Director for the choirs (Windy City Gay Chorus & Aria) of the Windy City Performing Arts. A doctoral candidate at the University of Washington in Seattle, Jeremiah has assisted in teaching undergraduate and graduate conducting and choral technique courses. He conducted several groups, including the UW Men’s Glee Club and UW Summer Chorale and served as assistant conductor to the top choral ensembles: University Chorale (under Giselle Wyers) and University Chamber Singers (under Geoffrey Boers). His recent performance of “In Lumine” by Guggenheim-winning composer Huck Hodge was well-received by composer, choir, and audience alike.
Mr. Selvey’s dissertation is a comparative examination of perspectives on conductor and choral expression among seasoned choral conductors, experienced choir members, and average audience members. The dissertation also explores the implications of these perspectives on the pedagogy of conducting; rehearsal methodology and technique; and audience engagement and education. Mr. Selvey has had the privilege of studying with great teachers, including Simon Carrington, Peter Phillips, Jerry Blackstone, Kent Hatteberg, Geoffrey Boers, Giselle Wyers, Steven Morrison, Steven Demorest, Robert Harris, and Eric Nelson.
During his tenure in Seattle, Mr. Selvey was active as a conductor and singer in the greater Seattle area. Mr. Selvey guest conducted the Seattle Men’s Chorus (under Dennis Coleman) in two shows and was integral to its Vocal Coach Program throughout the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons. He has co-directed the summer barbershop programs of the Seattle SeaChordsmen (2011-2012) and their Capture Your Voice Program (Fall 2011). Mr. Selvey also served as the assistant conductor of the Magnolia Chorale (2010-2011) under Dr. Julia Tai. As a singer, Mr. Selvey is active as a countertenor and baritone soloist, having recently performed as alto soloist in the Bach Magnificat and as a baritone soloist for a work commissioned for women’s choir and his voice.
Jeremiah is also active as a clinician and researcher in the field of choral conducting. His most recent research interests span the fields of audience engagement and expressivity in choral conducting. His co-authored paper “The Effect of Conducting Expressivity on Choral Ensemble Evaluations” has been presented both nationally and internationally, including at the joint International Conference for Music Perception and Cognition & European Society for the Cognitive Sciences of Music (ICMPC-ESCOM) conference in Thessaloniki, Greece in July 2012.
As a conductor, Mr. Selvey’s artistry is highly regarded for beauty and precision. Choral experts heralded a recent performance of Brahms’ Ein deutshces Requiem at St. Mark’s Cathedral of Seattle, Washington as “the highlight of any musical experience of Brahms.” Jeremiah’s approach to technique, pedagogy, and scholarship are all informed through the lens of artistry, both in the process and product. He is esteemed for his attention to beauty and his keen sense of programming. “Never Again…Once More” (summer 2011)—a grassroots production of a re-contextualized drama incorporating dance, acting, choreography, and some challenging repertoire from opera, musical theater, oratorio—serves as an example of Jeremiah’s ability to empower individuals and community to make contributions to a great artistic cause.
Mr. Selvey grew up as a church musician in Spain and in the United States. True to his upbringing, Mr. Selvey’s musical career has followed an international path with multiple performances and tours in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, England, Ireland, and Scotland. In addition to conducting, teaching, and performing, Mr. Selvey is co-founder and Vice President of Chorosynthesis, a national nonprofit corporation, whose mission is to transform the culture of American choral music by raising awareness of the need for collaboration, sustainability, innovation, and excellence in the choral art.
