Oliver, John
Oliver, John
Oliver, John, American conductor and teacher; b. Teaneck, N.J., June 4, 1939. He was educated at the Univ. of Notre Dame (B.M., 1961) and the New England Cons. of Music (M.M. in choral conducting, 1967). From 1964 he was on the staff of the Mass. Inst. of Technology, where he was a technical instructor (1969–77), lecturer (1977–81), and senior lecturer (from 1981). He also was conductor of its glee club (1971–74), choral society (1972–88), schola cantorum (1973–75), and chamber chorus and concert choir (from 1988). From 1970 to 1991 he was head of vocal and choral activities at the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood. He also was founder-conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (from 1970) and of the John Oliver Chorale (from 1977). Oliver’s repertoire ranges from the 18th century to the present era.
—Nicolas Slominsky/Laura Kaun/Dennis McIntire