Carmel Middle School Chamber Orchestra

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

The Carmel Middle School Orchestra program (Carmel, IN) is a nationally-recognized program in which sequential string orchestra instruction is offered, grades 6-8. The program has earned many accolades during its nearly thirty-five-year history, including over eighty Gold awards, numerous Gold "with Distinction" awards, consistent Superior ratings, Best Overall Orchestra awards at Music in the Parks festivals, and invitations to perform at Indiana's IMEA convention and the 71st annual Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference. Additionally, the program is one of three middle schools to feed into the nationally renowned Carmel High School Orchestra program, which has consistently been named the ISSMA Indiana State Champion. The Carmel Middle School Performing Arts department also host nationally-recognized choir and band programs. The mission of the Carmel Middle School Orchestra program is to provide positively life-changing experiences through music for every student.

Carmel Middle School Chamber Orchestra

Conductor's Bio

Joel Powell is currently the Director of Orchestras at Carmel Middle School in Carmel, IN and also serves as the Concert Orchestra conductor of the New World Youth Orchestras of Indianapolis, IN. Mr. Powell graduated magna cum laude with honors from Ball State University, earning a BA in Music Education. Mr. Powell is formerly an orchestra director at Avon Community Schools and Goshen Community Schools where he taught middle and high school orchestra. Mr. Powell began his studies on violin and viola with Dr. Caroline Card Wendt. As a violinist, Mr. Powell studied with concert violinist and recording artist Mary Kothman and was a scholarship pupil of renowned violin virtuoso Sherry Kloss, past teaching associate of Jascha Heifetz. Mr. Powell’s list of professional performance engagements as a musician include such distinctions as scholarship pupil at the Jascha Heifetz Institute for the Development of Personal Style and master classes with Sydney Harth, Felicia Moye, David Holland, Roger Meyers, and Stephen Clapp, the former Dean of the Juilliard School of Music. Mr. Powell is also an accomplished violist and studied extensively with Philip Tietze. Mr. Powell regularly performs with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and other area orchestras as both a violinist and violist. Mr. Powell is an accomplished conductor and orchestra director. As a conductor, he studied with Kirk Trevor and Bohuslav Rattay and has participated in master classes with Kevin Noe. Mr. Powell’s orchestras have consistently earned international recognition and honors. Two of Mr. Powell's orchestras have been invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, Il, first with the Avon Middle School Chamber Orchestra in 2015 at the 69th Annual Midwest Clinic and second the Carmel Middle School Chamber Orchestra in 2017 at the 71st Annual Midwest Clinic. Highly sought after as a clinician and conductor, Mr. Powell's orchestras consistently earn top ratings and prizes at contests and festivals. Mr. Powell has twice served as an honorary guest conductor for the Jefferson County Public School Corporation’s All-County Honor Orchestra (Louisville, KY), conducting both the high school and middle school honor orchestras. He has also guest-conducted the Indiana American String Teachers Association All-Region Honor Orchestra. Since 2014, Mr. Powell has served as a faculty clinician for the Music for All Summer Symposium at Ball State University. Mr. Powell’s wife, Madison Gren Powell, is an accomplished concert violinist and respected private teacher. Mr. Powell also has a son, Gavin, and two daughters, Sabrina and Vanessa, all of whom study the violin.