DR. DOMINIC TALANCA

Conductor, Wilmington Symphony Pops Orchestra

Dominic Talanca is the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Wilmington Symphonic Winds. He is also an Associate Professor of Music at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and the Director of Bands, where he conducts the Symphonic Band and Pep Band, teaches courses in conducting and woodwind techniques, and administers all aspects of the band program. He is also the conductor the OLLI New Horizons Band.

Talanca received the Bachelor of Music Education degree and Master of Music in Wind Conducting degree from the University of North Texas, where he studied conducting with Eugene Migliaro Corporon. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting degree at Northwestern University, where he studied with Mallory Thompson.

Dr. Talanca taught for ten years in the Lewisville Independent School District in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and served as the Associate Director of Bands at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas from 2006-2013, during which time the student musicians were recognized for their performances in concert and marching activities - earning numerous placements in the All-Region and All-State ensembles as well as 4 consecutive biannual Texas 5A State Marching Championship Awards.

Talanca is co-author of a beginning band method entitled Musical Mastery, published by MRNS Music. Additionally, Dr. Talanca has contributed three articles to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series, published by GIA Publications. He has recorded over 450 significant works in the wind band repertoire on the Mark Custom, Klavier, Naxos, and GIA recording labels. Talanca has also had the privilege to conduct as well as perform and record with the Lone Star Wind Orchestra.

Dr. Talanca is an active conductor, masterclass clinician, and adjudicator in North Carolina and nationally. His professional affiliations include Pi Kappa Lambda (National Music Honor Society), the College Band Directors National Association, North Carolina Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and he is an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

John Dooley, Baritone

Baritone John Dooley has been praised by The Wall Street Journal for his “warm, supple baritone.”  His versatile comedic and “confident, even swaggering, stage presence.” He is an in demand crossover performer in opera, musical theatre and concert repertoire.  

Mr. Dooley can be heard as Badger the Miner on the 2019 Grammy® Award winning Best Opera Recording of Tobias Picker's Fantastic Mr. Fox with Boston Modern Orchestra Project recorded by BMOP sound. He originated the role of Lysander in Michael Ching’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream: opera a cappella with Opera Memphis/Playhouse on the Square (recorded on Albany Records). He joined the New York Philharmonic in the Emmy® Nominated, Live from Lincoln Center production of Carousel. 

Career Highlights include: Locally: Opera Wilmington, Long Bay Symphony, Carolina Master Chorale, Wilmington Choral Society, Choir at St Paul’s & Crystal Coast Choral Society. Nationally: Portland Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Opera San Antonio, Tulsa Opera, Amarillo Opera, Central City Opera, Lake George Opera, Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, Opera Roanoke, Opera Delaware, HALO (Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera), Opera Theater of Connecticut, Opera on the James, Utah Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, Sanibel Music Festival, Pittsburgh CLO, Arizona Broadway Theater & Theater at Monmouth.

When not singing, John is a Realtor®/Broker as part of The Dooley Group at Discover NC Homes in Southport/Oak Island, NC where he lives with wife, Shannon, daughter, Renee & cats Simon & Nicholas. www.johndooleybaritone.com.