Russell Wagoner, a native of Fishers, Indiana, is highly sought after as a conductor, pianist, arranger, composer, teacher and vocal coach.  He is the full time music director and accompanist for Front Row Center, the Director of Choral Activities at Tappan Zee High School in Orangeburg, NY and the Organist and Director of Music at the Franklin Lakes United Methodist Church in Franklin Lakes, NJ.

Mr. Wagoner holds a Master of Music degree in Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Ball State University in Muncie, IN.  While attending CCM he conducted the Chamber Singers, accompanied the Mini-Singers, and sang in the Chamber Choir, Chorale and with the Opera Department.  Russell acted as a coach/accompanist in CCM's Opera Theater of Lucca program in Lucca, Italy and was the Manager for The Vocal Arts Ensemble, Cincinnati's Premier Professional Vocal Ensemble.

Russell's outstanding achievements as a high school choral director and educator have garnered him many honors of distinction: Ball State University awarded Mr. Wagoner with an Alumni Citation for Outstanding Achievement and Who's Who has included him four times in the 5th, 6th, 8th and 9th editions of Who's Who Among America's Teachers as well as Who's Who in America.  In February 2003, Mr. Wagoner and the Tappan Zee High School Concert Choir made their NYC debut at Carnegie Hall.  The Concert Choir was chosen as one of four choirs to sing in the second annual NYC Area Choral Festival.  They performed various selections including the Bach "Magnificat in D BMV 243" with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.  Also in February 2003, Mr. Wagoner was a guest faculty member at Manchester College in North Manchester, IN providing a week long residency where he gave master classes on music education, choral rehearsal techniques and accompanying.  This week long residency concluded in a concert with Front Row Center performing Broadway's most enchanting love songs in "My Romance."  In the spring of 2004, Russell was awarded two grants for a new project entitled "Making Music Art."  The grants came from the Arts Council of Rockland and the South Orangetown Central School District to have a new choral composition commissioned for the Tappan Zee High School Concert Choir.  The composition entitled "Choose" was composed by Joel Weiss and premiered in May of 2004.  In June of 2004 Russell and his High School won the Helen Hayes award for Overall Best Musical for their production of "42nd Street."  In 2005, Russell was awarded three grants for his project "In the Eye of the Beholder."  The grants were awarded to him to have a second piece commissioned for the Concert Choir.  The composition entitled "Midnight Ballet" was composed by Richard Pearson Thomas and premiered in May of 2005.  Russell also received a professional development grant for the development of a new music theory course text entitled "Food for Thought."

Mr. Wagoner is currently in the process of composing his first full scale musical based on the story of Sleeping Beauty, entitled "One Forever Kiss" with librettist/lyricist Jan Behr.  The musical will be featured in a concert performance as part of the FLUMC Concert Series in 2006.

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