Associate Professor of Music Theatre Brian Kremer assumes the role of program coordinator of music theatre in the Department of Performing Arts after serving in an interim capacity since spring.
The Elon Music Theatre Program is excited to announce Associate Professor Brian Kremer as its new program coordinator. Kremer has been a beloved member of the Elon Music Theatre faculty since his arrival at Elon in 2016. He continues to teach private voice lessons and courses like Contemporary Vocal Styles, Senior Seminar and Performance in Music Theatre as he steps into the role of program coordinator, which he has filled in an interim capacity since spring.
Kremer holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s of music from Manhattan School of Music. He specializes in contemporary vocal styles, including music theater, rock, pop, country, R&B and hip-hop. Kremer’s students can be seen on Broadway, off-Broadway and in national tours.
Apart from teaching, Kremer has presented on various topics at professional conferences, colleges and universities around the world, including the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Music Theatre Educators Alliance, The International Congress of Voice Teachers, South Eastern Theatre Conference, Temple University, and Folkwang Universität der Künste, Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University, The Voice Foundation and more. He co-authored “The Singing Teacher’s Guide to Transgender Voices,” the first comprehensive resource focusing on the singing training of transgender and nonbinary singers. He has also published articles on inclusive and consent-based practices within educational spaces, and is an affiliate faculty of Theatrical Intimacy Education, the nation’s leading research organization specializing in consent-forward practices.
After shepherding successful masterclasses with Kristin Chenoweth and Daniel J. Watts in the spring, Kremer, along with his colleagues, is guiding another exciting year of productions, masterclasses and more. Students are already working towards many performances that will take place this fall on campus, including the fall cabaret “Collage,” which features music theatre students, and the mainstage production of “Spring Awakening.”
Inside Elon’s Center for the Arts, students are back and ready to create in the unique environment that is the Elon Music Theatre program. Kremer says Elon’s program creates the perfect environment for creativity by providing students with a well-rounded, yet individualized approach to their training.
“Our program is uniquely designed to allow students to chart their own course, offering a wide array of opportunities, such as studying abroad, declaring a double major or minor, or taking elective courses in specialized areas,” Kremer says. “And all of this while following a music theatre curriculum that is expertly crafted with just the right amount of structure.”
Looking toward the future of the program, Kremer notes that “the goal is to modernize the music theatre program while acknowledging its remarkable achievements in the past. This means developing versatile artists who are proficient beyond the traditional triple-threat areas of singing, dancing, and acting, and can produce their own works.” He hopes students “remain lifelong learners who are curious about the world and embrace diversity in all its forms.”
Alongside the training, Kremer also expressed that one of his favorite parts of Elon Music Theatre is that it is “very special in its approach and community.” It is true that Elon Performing Arts creates a tight-knit community of actors, singers, and creatives that extends far beyond a student’s undergraduate years.
“The alumni network is truly exceptional, offering support, guidance, and employment opportunities to one another,” Kremer says. “It’s not unusual for former students to remain close friends and roommates for years after graduation. Despite being located in a small town, the Performing Arts Department has a national reach. Our faculty and staff members are not only skilled educators but also actively engaged in cutting-edge research and scholarship that push the boundaries of the industry.”