Michael Kissinger

Artistic & Executive Director at Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival
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Contact Information
us****@****om
(386) 825-5501
Location
Portland, Oregon, United States, US

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Experience

    • United States
    • Musicians
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Artistic & Executive Director
      • Aug 1998 - Present

      The Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival is recognized as the #1 Cultural Tourism event in the Southwest Washington / Vancouver region and is “…the largest jazz festival of its kind in the Northwest…” (ABC TV KATU Channel 2, Portland, OR). Artistic & Management Duties include: • Artistic Director – oversee all artistic and musical production, technical, and logistics • Musical – book all GRAMMY-winning bands, national acts, local bands, Education Stage • Fundraising – manage $500,000 + budget from tickets, sponsors, grants, donors, etc. • Management – manage staff, volunteers, vendors and contractors • Contracts – negotiate contracts and fees & book GRAMMY-winning bands Major Achievements include: • Founded “…the largest festival of its kind in the Northwest…” (ABC TV, KATU 2, Portland, OR) • Produced & Managed 21 successful seasons • Produce concerts by artists such as David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval, Manhattan Transfer, etc. • 150,000 total attendance since 1998 • Secured sponsors such as Aetna, Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Comcast, FedEx, Fred Meyer, US Bank The Festival presents concerts during the 3-day festival by internationally acclaimed jazz, blues, pop and gospel musicians as well as local and regional bands and student musicians. In addition to music the Festival also features more than 100 different wines; 20 fine artists from Oregon, Washington, California and Idaho; local restaurants and caterers; and exhibitors. The Festival is supported by loyal sponsors ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to local small businesses. The Festival was recognized by National Geographic as an important cultural geotourism festival, and is featured on a National Geographic GeoTourism Map of Washington and Oregon (http://www.thecentralcascades.com/vancouver-wine-and jazz-festival). The Festival has attracted attendees from 25 US states, Canada, China, Croatia, Japan and Great Britain, and more than 65% of attendees are out-of-town visitors. Show less

    • United States
    • Music
    • Artistic Director & Conductor
      • Aug 1993 - Present

      Artistic & Management Duties include: • Conductor – Northwest Chamber Orchestra • Conductor – Bravo! Northwest Chorale, and Jazz Orchestra • Artistic Director – program repertoire, produce concerts, programs, and special events • Educator – create music programs and master class opportunities for students • Fundraising – raise money through tickets, corporate sponsors, special events & donors Major Achievements include: • Conducted and produced more than 250 concerts since 1993 • Raised more than $7,500,000 from tickets, sponsors, Jazz Festival, fundraising event, donors, etc. • Produced concert tours to Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle • Sold tickets to 40,000 audience members over 25 years. • Produced CD recordings: Handel’s Messiah and Hear My Prayer: The American Spiritual Bravo! Concerts Northwest (also Bravo! Vancouver) is a nonprofit performing arts organization based in Vancouver, Washington. Founded in 1993, Bravo! currently produces the Bravo! Vancouver concert series in Vancouver, WA; Music at The Madeleine concert series in Portland, OR; produces the annual Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival; produces the Dubrovnik International Wine & Jazz Festival; and creates and produces other collaborative arts and music projects. Bravo! includes several performing ensembles including: the Bravo! Chorale; Bravo! Chamber Choir; Northwest Chamber Orchestra; and various guest artists and performers. Show less

    • Guest Conductor
      • Jun 2006 - Present

      Guest Conductor, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra. Create, produce and direct orchestra concert programs. My focus has been both 'standard classical' orchestral repertoire (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven) as well as concerts featuring classical-jazz crossover music and with guest artists such as Diane Schuur, Jose Feliciano, NATO Jazz Orchestra, Brubeck Brothers Jazz Quartet, American pianist Maria Manzo, Broadway baritone Douglas Webster and others. • Conductor – Conduct orchestra and guest artists, and perform as clarinet soloist • Producer – Produced concert tours in USA & Croatia, and Bosnia-Hercegovina • Artistic Programming – Program repertoire to create classical, jazz, and pop concert programs • Soloist – perform as clarinet soloist Show less

  • BRAVO Youth Orchestra
    • Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area
    • Artist Teacher
      • Sep 2019 - Sep 2022

      Teach and coach young student musicians in the Portland BRAVO Youth Orchestra program, grades 4-8. Teach and coach young student musicians in the Portland BRAVO Youth Orchestra program, grades 4-8.

    • United States
    • Higher Education
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Adjunct Professor of Music
      • Aug 2016 - Jun 2017

      1-year Adjunct Professor position. Duties included teaching History of Western Music to undergraduate music majors; and World Music, which was open to all university students. 1-year Adjunct Professor position. Duties included teaching History of Western Music to undergraduate music majors; and World Music, which was open to all university students.

    • Artistic & Executive Director
      • Oct 2010 - Oct 2015

      A 5-year project with the City of Dubrovnik and Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra. The Dubrovnik Wine & Jazz Festival presents internationally acclaimed jazz musicians as well as Croatian wines and artists in the historic city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. • Producer – create & produce Festival featuring American & Croatian Jazz Musicians • Sales – secured money from City of Dubrovnik, Croatia Airlines, OTP Bank, Radisson Blu Hotels • Conductor – led concerts of Jose Feliciano, Dubrovnik Symphony, NATO Jazz Orchestra, etc. Show less

    • Executive Director
      • Aug 1993 - Aug 1997

      Executive Director: Manager of all Arts Council programs and staff, in partnership with the state Oregon Arts Commission. • Management & Finance – manage all Arts Council operations, volunteers, staff • Financial – Managed operating budget of $500,000 • Capital Campaign – Assisted with redevelopment of the Historic Elsinore Theatre • Grants – Managed grants to local organizations • Producer – Great Western Art Show, Portland Opera in Salem, Chautauqua National Tour • Ticketing – Created partnership with FASTIXX ticketing system Show less

    • United States
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Director Of Choral Activities
      • Jun 1992 - Jun 1993

      I taught a 1-year contract position at Rocky Mounty Senior High School and Middle School. I taught choral music and led the choirs at both schools before relocating to the Pacific Northwest in August 1993. I taught a 1-year contract position at Rocky Mounty Senior High School and Middle School. I taught choral music and led the choirs at both schools before relocating to the Pacific Northwest in August 1993.

  • American Music Festival
    • Beaufort, North Carolina, United States
    • Founding Artistic Director
      • Oct 1989 - Oct 1992

      I co-founded the American Music Festival in Beaufort, North Carolina with current Artistic Director and pianist Barbara McKenzie. The American Music Festival has brought artists of national and international distinction and the world stage experience of great chamber music to coastal North Carolina for over 30 years. Duties included: • Management – cofounded and produced the concert series (www.americanmusicfestival.org) • Fundraising – developed budget and secured funding from grants and corporate sponsors • Programming – planned concert programs and contracted musicians • Concert Artist – performed as soloist and chamber music with classical and jazz musicians Show less

  • Friends of the College Concert Series
    • Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
    • Marketing & Season Ticket Director
      • Jun 1991 - Jun 1992

      Friends of the College Concert Series (FOTC) ran from 1959-1995 at North Carolina State University. It featured world renowned artists and ensembles ranging from the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Beverly Sills, Leonard Bernstein, the New York City Ballet, Metropolitan Opera stars Roberta Peters, Jan Peerce, Robert Merrill and Richard Tucker; to pianist Arthur Rubenstein; and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. My job was to organize and manage season ticket sales of 10,000 season tickets sold by a team of 300 statewide volunteers. Duties included: • Marketing Director – Created materials & collateral to promote and market concert series • Season Ticket Manager—managed Sales Team of 300 volunteers to sell 10,000 season tickets • Concert Production – manage Front of House for New York City Opera, Yo-Yo Ma, etc. Show less

    • United States
    • Strategic Management Services
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • North Carolina Visiting Artist
      • 1989 - 1991

      As a North Carolina Visiting Artist, I was hired through a rigorous audition process through the North Carolina Arts Council. I toured and performed more than 200 solo and chamber music concerts throughout the state of North Carolina, and created the American Music Festival in Beaufort, North Carolina. The American Music Festival continues to this day, more than 30 years later. As a North Carolina Visiting Artist, I was hired through a rigorous audition process through the North Carolina Arts Council. I toured and performed more than 200 solo and chamber music concerts throughout the state of North Carolina, and created the American Music Festival in Beaufort, North Carolina. The American Music Festival continues to this day, more than 30 years later.

Education

  • Eastman School of Music
    DMA, (Doctor of Musical Arts)
  • Michigan State University
    Master of Music, Music
  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro
    Bachelor of Music

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