James F. Hohmeyer,
Artistic Director and Conductor
James Hohmeyer is the former Artistic Director for the Music Society, the conductor-emeritus of the Rochester Symphony Orchestra, and the current Director of Choral programs at the Midland Center for the Arts and Music Theatre. In 2010 he was the conductor of the Hollywood Concert Orchestra on a national tour with Shirley Jones in "A Night at the Oscars." His conducting credits include the Pittsburgh Symphony, Lake St. Clair Symphony, Southern Great Lakes Symphony, the Arizona State Honors Orchestra, Oakland Youth Symphony, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony and the Michigan Opera Theater Touring orchestra. He was selected as the State Honors Choir director for Michigan twice and is active as a choral music adjudicator and clinician. Hohmeyer apprenticed with Maestros Robert Shaw and James Levine, and has degrees from Wayne State University. He completed the requirements for a Doctor of Music Arts in orchestral conducting at Michigan State University.
Hohmeyer has been musical director for the Hillberry Theater and Bonstelle theaters at Wayne State University; the Attic Theater, Detroit; the Meadowbrook Theater, Rochester, Michigan; the Marquis Theater, Northville, Michigan; the Dearborn Civic Theater, Dearborn,Michigan; and the Dearborn Player's Guild, Dearborn, Michigan.
In 2005, Good Company, a vocal jazz ensemble organized by Hohmeyer, was selected as one of three groups to perform for the American Choral Director's Association's National Convention in Los Angeles. In 2007, the Camerata Singers were selected to perform for the ACDA - Michigan's convention in Grand Rapids. Hohmeyer has won awards in the National Adult Conducting Competition, LaCrosse, Wisconsin; and the American Conductor's Competition in Oakland, California. His multi-faceted background includes a 30-year career in the Detroit area as an educator, jazz pianist, and conductor for theatrical shows as well as a conductor/pianist/arranger for the Michigan Opera Theater touring programs.
Hohmeyer has served as choir director, organist and director of music for the First Baptist Church of Ferndale, the Congregational Church of Birmingham, the Birmingham Unitarian Church; Christ Church Episcopal-Detroit; Memorial Presbyterian Church, Midland; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mt. Pleasant and currently is the Director of Music at the United Church of Christ in Midland.