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delivering Education rain or shine:
Matthew Mailman By Rod Jones
Music can change your life. For many people, music is their life. That might be a fitting description of Oklahoma City University’s Wind Philharmonic conductor Matthew Mailman. Mailman likes to share his enthusiasm about music with younger generations, not only college students but also elementary-aged children. He organizes the annual Children’s Concert and Petting Zoo for hundreds of grade school students in the Oklahoma City area, an event that will have its 11th run in April. Mailman hosted a weekly classical music radio program called “No Strings Attached” for more than four years. He is the founder and conductor of the Harrison Academy Symphonic Winds and an associate conductor for the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra. His work has been published in The Instrumentalist and Teaching Music magazines, and he was a research associate and writer for eight volumes in the series “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band.” His arrangement of Mozart’s Flute Concerto No. 2, K. 314 for Harmonie was published by the Southern Music publishing company based in Texas. It comes as no surprise that Mailman grew up in a musical household. His mother is a concert pianist and his father was the composer in residence for 34 years at the University of North Texas in Denton. His mother, who learned her craft at Juilliard, also taught music at UNT. Mailman earned his bachelor’s degree in music composition and master’s degree in conducting from Northwestern University in Illinois. After spending some time in Chicago recording commercial jingles, he returned to Denton to earn his doctorate of musical arts in conducting from UNT. He and his sister took piano lessons as children. Through a twist of irony, Mailman was the sibling who carried his musical talents into a professional career. “When we were kids, my parents wanted my sister to be the professional musician and they didn’t want me to be the professional musician. It actually worked out the other way around,” he joked. Denton has a reputation for being a premier music city. Because it attracts so many musicians, Mailman said, the competition to succeed amongst peers has driven many who learned
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there into successful musical positions all over the country. He didn’t need to live anywhere else to broaden his appreciation for music. In fact, “I lived in the same bedroom in the same house from the time I was born until I started college,” he said. What did vary, though, is his array of musical preference. Although his professional life Top: Matthew Mailman conducts the OCU Wind Philharmonic in 2010. is grounded in classical music, Below left: Mailman with Wanda Bass in 2004. Below right: Mailman he spends much of his time at work during OCU’s 2006 spring commencement ceremony. away from work listening to jazz and classic rock. His favorcan be done instead of focusing so much on what ite concert of all time was seeing Paul McCartney can’t be done. in 2009. “One thing I’ve always loved about OCU— “It was a moving experience. From 80 feet learning is not just for the students. Every time I away I was watching the most important living come to work, it feels like I’m coming to school.” songwriter in the world. He’s so prolific and cutLearning is a major component of conducting, ting edge, even to this day, and without being he noted. Conductors prepare for upcoming perpretentious,” he said. formances by studying background information His other interests include outdoor activities about the pieces their orchestras will perform. and watching movies. He said one of the skills of a great conductor is “When you’re around music all day at school, disseminating that information to the musicians you need a mental sorbet,” he said, explaining his in an efficient manner. life outside of work. “When you go into rehearsal, there isn’t Mailman joined the Bass School of Music facenough time to teach everything you learned. ulty in 1995. Besides his regular teaching duties, You can only get across about 10 percent of what he serves as a music director for the Oklahoma you know, and if you talk too much the musiOpera and Music Theater Company. In the 16 cians get bored and eager to play. The key is findyears since his appointment, he has conducted ing the right balance,” he said. 30 operas and musicals and has led the Wind The conductor also has peripheral responsiPhilharmonic in 10 world premieres, on five bilities like promoting the concert and writing tours, at two OK Mozart Festivals and at seven program notes. convention performances. He teaches graduate The conductor’s performance during the show and undergraduate conducting and coordinates is also important. While they shouldn’t steal the OCU’s Masters in Conducting program. show with too much charisma, Mailman says a Mailman credits the school’s leadership and clear baton technique is important for the mufellow faculty members for making his job a fulsicians while the arm movements should give filling experience. a visual idea of what the music is supposed to “I talk with my peers at other universities, and sound like. they often complain about how faculty and adStill, “My philosophy is that the conductor is ministrators don’t get along,” he said. “It’s not the least important person in the concert hall. like that here. Mark Parker (music school dean) Your posture should command attention, but I and Dean (Mark) Belcik are incredibly visionary would rather the audience be impressed by what people and they’re extremely fair when it comes they’re hearing, not seeing.” to their decisions. It’s inspiring to be around people who embrace a paradigm of how much Contact Rod Jones at Rod.Jones@okcu.edu.