AIC to Partner with Springfield Conservatory of the Arts

AIC is fortunate to have Marcos Carreras, director of Music at the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts, as a partner in the community. The Springfield Conservatory of the Arts is a grades six through twelve magnet school where Mr. Carreras leads the band and choral programs. He and his students will generously perform this October 20 at the Investiture Ceremony for President Benitez and at select athletic events throughout the academic year.

In addition to his students performing on Springfield’s local PBS affiliate WGBY, Mr. Carreras created a virtual master class series in which twenty-nine Grammy, Tony, and Emmy artists shared information about their careers with his pupils. He established weekly instrumental group lessons with principal members of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and as a percussionist, he and his students are frequent performers with Latin Grammy winner Ben Gundersheimer (Mister G.)

Serving for nineteen years as the coordinator of Vocal Music at Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, CT, he led nine choirs,  and appeared at a cappella events, choir festivals, and performed with children’s choirs in Boston, Chicago, Hartford, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington. Some of his groups won multiple state and regional competitions, including three national awards from DownBeat magazine, along with an appearance on Good Morning America.

Mr. Carreras is a 2022 recipient of the Harold Grinspoon Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award winner, is a four-time Grammy Music Educator of the Year nominee, an American Choral Directors Association Director of the Year in Connecticut, and has been an associate conductor for a Carnegie Hall symposium. He has been featured on NBC Connecticut and is a frequent presenter and conductor throughout the state. He previously served as the executive and artistic director of the Children’s Chorus of Springfield.

Mr. Carreras graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in music education from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford. He serves on the board of directors of New England Public Media and the Education Committee of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.

AIC is fortunate to have Mr. Carreras as a partner and collaborator and grateful that he and his students will be on campus to donate their time and talent.