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. Outside of his musical activities, Teamer was heavily involved at SFA as a Jack Walker (campus tour guide), orientation leader, campus content creator, and many other areas of student affairs, and was awarded “The Best of SFA” (formerly titled “Mr. and Ms. SFA”) in 2023. Before his collegiate studies, Teamer played flute in band, sang in choir, performed in musicals and plays, competed in dramatic speech, and played a special role in community engagement through the performing arts in his hometowns of Woodbury, MN, and Lewisville, TX.

 

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! (SUNY Fredonia), Once on This Island (The Winnipesaukee Playhouse), Monty Python’s Spamalot (Ozark Actors Theatre), Islander (Irish Classical Theatre Company), Seussical: TYA Version (Stephen F. Austin State University), Baby (Oklahoma City University), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Studio B Performing Arts), Hadestown: Teen Edition (Kismet Arts Studio & Theatre), and Elf, Jr. (Spotlight Acting Academy). 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