Braden – Morrison Dance – Photo © Bob Perkoski, http://www.Perkoski.com
Braden Pontoli is a Cleveland-based performer, composer, conductor, and educator who will be relocating to Los Angeles, California this summer to attend the California Institute of the Arts to pursue a Masters of Fine Arts degree in their Performer-Composer program. Current projects include continued work with Morrisondance, a commission for Pennsylvania Music Education Association District 5 Chorus, and creating music for upcoming film and video games.
Braden received his Bachelors of Music Education from Baldwin Wallace University. At BW, Braden sang in the Bach Festival Chorus, Motet Choir, University Choir, and the BW Men’s Chorus. Braden formed the All Male A Cappella Ensemble, Mr. Sun’s Echo also arranging music for the ensemble. Braden composed for the BW New Music Series as well as fyoo zh en where student composers were matched with student choreographers.
After undergrad, Braden became the Director of Choirs at Learwood Middle School where he had the opportunity of conducting over 1,000 middle school voices in five choirs. Braden formed the Learwood A Cappella Ensemble and helped his choirs receive many superior and excellent ratings at adjudicated events. Braden is also the music director at Rocky River United Methodist Church where he has had the opportunity to conduct the chancel choir, major works, and oversee a wonderful music ministry. In 2016, Braden conducted the OMEA District 4 Jr. High Chorus. In 2019, Braden will conduct the PMEA District 5 High School Chorus where he has been commissioned to write a piece for the festival.
A vocalist, pianist, and percussionist, Braden is in demand to collaborate with various performing ensembles…you may even see Braden impersonate Elvis Presley once in a while. In 2012, Braden travelled to Jamaica to learn and teach Afro-Cuban Drumming and Jamaican Folk Songs and in 2015, Braden had the opportunity to travel to sing with the Westminster Chamber Choir to New York City. In 2016, Braden started collaborating with Morrisondance writing music for their show entitled “In The Space of Dreams” that premiered June, 2017 at the Cleveland Public Theater. Braden is a member of ASCAP.
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