The composer, Mark Janas, a protégé of Leonard Bernstein, is the Minister of Music at Christ Church, and under his direction music has become a key part of worship. A Member of the Faculty at the Manhattan School of Music, Mr. Janas has recruited students to be members of the Choir, but is always looking for local talent to join in singing praise to God. So, if you know of anyone who would be interested in auditioning, Mr. Janas recommends that he or she attend the 11 AM service on a Sunday, and meet with Mr. Janas at the end of the service. Many would consider singing under his direction to be the opportunity of a lifetime for anyone with enthusiasm and musical talent.
Mark Janas began his piano studies at age of three, composed a sonatina at 5, and by high school was conducting the Hammond Area Orchestra . After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano and Composition from Indiana University, and receiving his Masters Degree in Orchestral Conducting from Rice University, Mr. Janas became a Conducting Fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute and studied with Michael Tilson Thomas, Christopher
Mark Janas began his piano studies at age of three, composed a sonatina at 5, and by high school was conducting the Hammond Area Orchestra . After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano and Composition from Indiana University, and receiving his Masters Degree in Orchestral Conducting from Rice University, Mr. Janas became a Conducting Fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute and studied with Michael Tilson Thomas, Christopher
Hogwood, and Herbert Blomstedt, as well as Leonard Bernstein. Janas music directed the world’s largest production of Hello, Dolly!, creating all-new arrangements for its star, Marilyn Maye. He was associate conductor for two national tours of Les Miserables, and has provided music direction for the York Theatre, The Irish Repertory Theatre Yale Repertory Theatre, Hippodrome State Theatre, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, and New Dramatists, to name a few. He has performed on and released two CDs with 2001 Best Debut BackStage Bistro and MAC award winner Julie Reyburn. In addition, he has taught at Yale, Barnard, Concordia, and NYU, as well as his Acting The Song class with colleague Andy Gale.
Currently, Mr. Janas is the founder and host of the 2010 MAC and Bistro award winning Salon at Etcetera Etcetera, a French-style Salon dedicated to the arts, which convenes at 7 PM every Sunday in midtown Manhattan and has featured such Broadway greats as Len Cariou, Karen Mason, and Norm Lewis. Various cabaret artists, most notably, Bistro and multi-MAC award winner Julie Reyburn, have appeared at his direction at Feinstein’s in the posh Manhattan Lowes Regency Hotel. A live recording of Ms. Reyburn in performance at Feinstein’s won the 2010 Bistro Award for Best live recorded album of the year. The Marquee Five, a MAC award-winning group of which Ms. Reyburn is a member (and of which Christ Church’s Fr Hamblin is a producer), has also performed at Christ Church, most recently at festivities on Sunday, September 12.
At the encouragement of Mr. Janas, Steve Schalchlin, composer of the off-Broadway musical hits The Last Session, and The Big Voice: God or Merman? has recently joined the choir, which has performed original compositions by both Mr. Janas and Mr. Schalchlin.
Christ Church Bay Ridge is located at 7301 Ridge Boulevard. Parking is available. All are welcome.
Currently, Mr. Janas is the founder and host of the 2010 MAC and Bistro award winning Salon at Etcetera Etcetera, a French-style Salon dedicated to the arts, which convenes at 7 PM every Sunday in midtown Manhattan and has featured such Broadway greats as Len Cariou, Karen Mason, and Norm Lewis. Various cabaret artists, most notably, Bistro and multi-MAC award winner Julie Reyburn, have appeared at his direction at Feinstein’s in the posh Manhattan Lowes Regency Hotel. A live recording of Ms. Reyburn in performance at Feinstein’s won the 2010 Bistro Award for Best live recorded album of the year. The Marquee Five, a MAC award-winning group of which Ms. Reyburn is a member (and of which Christ Church’s Fr Hamblin is a producer), has also performed at Christ Church, most recently at festivities on Sunday, September 12.
At the encouragement of Mr. Janas, Steve Schalchlin, composer of the off-Broadway musical hits The Last Session, and The Big Voice: God or Merman? has recently joined the choir, which has performed original compositions by both Mr. Janas and Mr. Schalchlin.
Christ Church Bay Ridge is located at 7301 Ridge Boulevard. Parking is available. All are welcome.
Mark Janas, Minister of Music
