Choral Performances and Workshops
Dr. Unger’s choral appearances include performances, music festivals, conventions, clinics, and workshops in Europe as well as the North American states and provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Manitoba, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Conducting Positions Held
Singers’ Club of Cleveland (a male chorus founded in 1892)
Artistic Director, 2001 to 2015. Honors included performance by invitation at Lakeside, Ohio, 2010; Chautauqua Institution, June 2002; and National Veterans’ Wheelchair Games, July 2002.
Baldwin-Wallace College Choir
Fall 2006. Highlights of the semester included preparation of works by William for the Focus Festival, with the composer in residence.
Baldwin-Wallace Singers
1999 to 2011. Honors for the choir included: ● Preparation and performance of Chen Yi work for performance with the composer in residence, 2008, ● Preparation of William Bolcom works for performance with the composer in residence, 2006, ● Performances of Bach cantatas at Annual B-W Bach Festival, ● Performance at convention of the Ohio Music Education Association, January, 2006, ● Performance in Severance Hall with the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra, May, 2005, ● Performance at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington, D.C.), October 2004, ● Performance at the convention of the Ohio Music Education Association, February 2001.
Edmonton Da Camera Singers
1981 to 1998. Honors included: ● 2nd Place in Mixed Choir Category at International Choral Kathaumixw (Powell River, B.C.), July 1996, ● Exchange concerts with Gloria Musicae, professional chamber choir from Sarasota, Florida, 1994, ● Principal chorus-in-residence, 1992 Classical Music Seminar-Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria. Included individual performance at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, ● Performance by invitation at Podium ’90, national convention of Canadian Choral Conductors (Calgary, AB, 1990) and invitation to perform at MusicFest Canada ’90, ● Performance by invitation at Canadian Country Music Awards, 1990, ● Performance by invitation at Toronto International Choral Festival, June 29, 1989, ● Performance by invitation at the national convention of Canadian Choral Conductors (Vancouver, B.C., 1986), ● Performance by invitation at Expo ’86, ● Gold medal standing, Alberta Chor-Al Fest ’88 and invitation to perform at MusicFest Canada ’88, ● Appearances on local and regional radio and television broadcasts.
Oregon Bach Festival
Eugene, Oregon, (Helmuth Rilling, music director), participating conductor, 1977 and 1979.
Saskatoon Boys Choir
1974–1975. Highlight was the choir’s appearance with Saskatoon Symphony and University choirs in performances of Britten’s War Requiem.
University and College Choirs and Instrumental Ensembles
State University of New York at Fredonia, Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory (now Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, Ohio), North American Baptist College (Edmonton, Alberta), University of Hawaii-Hilo, The King’s College (Edmonton), University of Saskatchewan (summer session), etc. Mel Unger conducted the N.A.B. College Concert Band for two years.
Highlights included: ● Performance at É himéni kakou (Hawaiian Intercollegiate Choral Festival); guest director of the combined choruses, 1997, ● N.A.B. College Choristers awarded first rank (gold) standing at Chor-Al-Fest, each performance; invitations to perform at MusicFest Canada, ● Annual two- to three-week tours with the N.A.B. College Choristers.
