Our final new hire! ~ VT
Shenandoah Conservatory has appointed Rick Edinger to the musical theatre program as music director and assistant professor of theatre beginning August 16, 2016.
“Rick Edinger will be a fantastic addition to the conservatory faculty, and to musical theatre in particular,” said Charles B. Levitin Chair in Musical Theatre and Professor of Composition and Musical Theatre Thomas Albert, D.M.A. “He made an immediate hit with everyone during his interview, and I know he will be successful in moving the musical theatre program forward. He is a gifted theatre musician who will be a collaborative colleague and an inspired mentor. I’m eager to see his work during the academic year and welcome him to the Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre family in the future.”
Edinger will succeed Albert, who retires at the end of this academic year after 42 years of service to Shenandoah University. Albert will continue serving as producing artistic director and music director for Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre.
“Tom Albert will leave behind a tremendous legacy upon his retirement from the position of music director this summer, and I am delighted that Rick—the unanimous choice of the search committee and the enthusiastic choice of students—will be stepping into that role come the fall,” said Shenandoah Conservatory Dean Michael Stepniak, Ed.D. “From his first moments in front of our students, Rick swept them into creating moments that were profoundly true and alive. With his experience in coaching, and with his skillfulness around exceptional music making and theatre performance, he is well positioned to help shape the next chapter of musical theatre training at Shenandoah Conservatory. I’m delighted that he will be joining our faculty.”
Rick Edinger is an accomplished music director, actor, and singer. He began his career as a performer, appearing in the 2004 Tony-nominated Broadway revival of “Pacific Overtures” and the Broadway benefit concert “Children and Art: A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim on the Eve of his 75th Birthday.” Regionally, he has performed in Symphony Space’s “Wall to Wall Sondheim,” Roundabout Theatre Company’s 40th Anniversary Gala at Chelsea Piers, “Anything Goes” and “My Fair Lady” at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (Auburn, New York), and “Grease!” and “Peter Pan” at Mt. Washington Valley Theatre Company (North Conway, New Hampshire). His television appearances include “As the World Turns,” “Love Monkey,” “Starved,” and the 2005 Tony Awards. He has also been featured on the recordings of “Pacific Overtures” with PS Classics and “Wall to Wall Sondheim” with SirusXM satellite radio.
Edinger has served as music director, coach, and accompanist for numerous educational institutions. He has been a guest music director at New York University Tisch School of the Performing Arts and served on faculty at the County College of Morris (Randolph, New Jersey) and the College of Saint Elizabeth (Morristown, New Jersey). Other institutions and projects include City University of New York – Hunter College, Bronx Opera, Coópera: Project Opera of Manhattan, Brightest Star School of the Performing Arts (Morristown, New Jersey), Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Mount Washington Valley Theatre Company, and The Talent Company. He has also worked as a collaborative pianist with Broadway performers and singers from the Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, Los Angeles Opera, San Francisco Opera and more.
Edinger received his training at Manhattan School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Brooklyn College, and Hunter College. He has studied piano with Gerardo Teissonniere and Geoffrey Burleson, and studied voice with Mignon Dunn, Joan Caplan and Maitland Peters. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and The American Federation of Television & Radio Artists.