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The German-born conductor, Tom Zelle, studied Musicology at Universitaet Hamburg; Church Music/Organ Dipolma at Musikhochschule Lübeck. He credits his artistic influences to his studies with Sergiu Celibidache, which led him to specialize his musical training in non-dual and phenomenological applications to music practice and orchestral conducting, and led him receive musical training in Germany and the USA. Other teachers who have influenced him the most: Ramesh Balsekar, Francis Lucille, Phyllis Krystal, and Rupert Spira. He studied Cognitive Anthropology at University of Pennsylvania; obtained his Master of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology/Cognitive Linguistics from Temple University; studied Phenomenology of Music at Musikhochschule München; obtained his Master of Music degree in Music Education, and his DMA in Orchestral Conducting from Arizona State University.
Tom Zelle teaches at North Park University and Theological Seminary since 1999. He serves as Music Director and Conductor of the North Park University Orchestra and is active as a choral conductor, clinician, church musician, and educator. Under his direction, the orchestra studies and performs a wide range of orchestral literature from the Baroque era to the present, and periodically collaborates with vocalists and other ensembles.
Tom Zelle has given master-classes for orchestra conductors in Venezuela as part of the El Sistema youth orchestra program and now works closely with an El Sistema-inspired youth orchestra program in Chicago. He also partners with the People’s Music School to provide orchestra training to elementary students at Albany Park schools.
Tom Zelle is music director at Sauganash Community Church in Chicago and maintains a private studio. He also serves as the principal guest conductor of the Sangrock Music Festival and as artistic director of the East West Music Festival in South Korea. |
