Eldred Marshall Artist-in-Residence, Associate Director of Music Ministries
A conductor and critically-acclaimed pianist, Eldred leads First United Methodist Garland's efforts to cultivate Christian community in Garland and the surrounding area through music and fine arts.
This includes producing the West Avenue B Community Concerts - featuring Eldred and guest artists from around the area and around the world - and other musical and artistic collaboration with the greater Garland community.
Eldred also serves as organist and accompanist for the Chancel Choir and Pure Joy! Youth Choir, and assists with the day-to-day workings of the Music Ministry.
In addition to his role at First United Methodist Garland, Eldred serves as Artistic and Music Director for Opera Diversità, an opera company based in Dallas-Fort Worth, and Music Director for the Next Gen Chamber Players of Mansfield.
He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree in Piano Performance from the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton and three Masters of Music degrees - in Piano, Organ and Orchestral Conducting - from Southern Methodist University (SMU). He also holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Yale University.
Eldred has performed in Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, the Ukraine, the Republic of San Marino and the People's Republic of China as well as throughout the United States.
He has conducted the Ukrainian State Academic Orchestra and Kharkov Youth Symphony in the Ukraine; the Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra and Vidin Philharmonic Orchestra in Bulgaria; and Filharmonica Oltenia di Craiova and the Constanta "Black Sea" Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania.
Eldred has also served as conductor for the Children's Opera Division of the Riverside Opera Institute in California; assistant conductor for the Meadows Symphony Orchestra at SMU and the Opera dell'arte Ensemble in New York City; and has collaborated with the UNT Symphony Orchestra.