Jay Teamer

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Jay Teamer (he/him/his) is an active music director, vocal coach, collaborative pianist, singer, conductor, and church musician based in Buffalo, NY. He is an energetic educator who believes in creating opportunities for artists to grow in their artistic identities and is passionate about fostering a love for music in people of all ages through the pillars of creativity, exploration, connection, and collaboration. Currently, he serves as the Lecturer of Musical Theatre in the Department of Theatre and Dance (TADA) at The State University of New York at Fredonia (SUNY Fredonia), where he teaches Singing for the Actor, Introduction to Musical Theatre, Keyboard Fundamentals, and Introduction to Performing Arts. He also serves TADA as the music director, pianist, and vocal coach for their musical theatre productions, performance workshop classes, annual senior showcase, and prospective auditions for incoming musical theatre students. 

Teamer holds an M.M. in Vocal Coaching from the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University (OCU) and a B.M. in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA). While at OCU, studying under the tutelage of Maestro Jan McDaniel, he was an active piano collaborator in musical theatre and opera rehearsals and productions, voice lessons, voice juries, musical theatre classes, masterclasses, and university-sponsored events. He was the conductor of the university’s Chapel Choir and a long-term substitute choir director at Casady School. He also held the Collaborative Pianist/Organist position at Wesley OKC United Methodist Church. At SFA, while studying voice with Dr. Deborah Dalton, he performed as a member of the SFA A Cappella Choir, SFA Chamber Singers, SFA Opera Theater, sang with the First United Methodist Church of Nacogdoches’ Chancel Choir, and appeared as a tenor soloist in a number of selected performances in the community. He was also the collaborative pianist for the choir programs of Nacogdoches HS, McMichael MS, and Raguet ES, accompanying choir concerts, elementary music programs, solo and ensemble contests, and UIL concert and festivals. 

As a rising music director, Teamer has been grateful to collaborate with many theaters and schools. Some of his previous music direction credits include: Ruthless!, Once on This Island, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Islander, Seussical: TYA Version, Baby, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Hadestown: Teen Edition, and Elf, Jr. He has served as an Assistant Music Director in productions such as Sweeney Todd, Anything Goes, and The Lightning Thief, and has played as a pit keyboardist in productions such as Legally Blonde, Rent, The Ballad of Baby Doe, and Suor Angelica.

His mentors include Professor Jan McDaniel, Dr. David Herendeen, Dr. Deborah Dalton, Dr. Michael Murphy, Dr. Claire Murphy, Dr. Tod Fish, and Ms. Lori Sager. He holds professional affiliations with Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society (PKL), American Federation of Musicians (AFM), Musical Theatre Educators Alliance (MTEA), International Keyboard Collaborative Arts Society (IKCAS), and previously held memberships with Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA). IG: @jayteamermusic

Office Hours

• Monday 12:00-2:00pm
• Tuesday 4:00-5:00pm
• Thursday 4:00-5:00pm
• By appointment

Teaching Interests

Singing for the Actor

Introduction to Musical Theatre

Introduction to Performing Arts

Keyboard Fundamentals

Research Interests

Cross-Pollination of Music Education and Musical Theatre

Black and African American Classical Music and Musical Theatre

Collaborative Piano in Musical Theatre

License/Certification

• Texas Educator Certification EC-12 in Music

Professional Membership

• Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society
• American Federation of Musicians - Local 92 (AFM)
• Musical Theatre Educators Alliance (MTEA)
• International Keyboard Collaborative Arts Society (IKCAS)