Music instruction and performance; tonal music composition for all instruments and voices; classical improvisation; music for theater and stage.

1968 – current.

Seeking a music director position; orchestrating the Gettysburg Address; orchestrating the one-act dramatic oratorio Intimations of Immortality, based upon Wordsworth’s poem of the same name; fundraising to orchestrate the Peace Symphony.

Music Director, Unitarian Universalist Church of Gwinnett, Lawrenceville, GA, Feb. 2005 - Dec. 2006

Recorded the first in a series of CDs "Don Orfeo in Concert at Serenity Lakes," music "to relax, inspire and energize."

Composed and produced "Songs My Dolphin Taught Me, Vol. 2," a one-hour CD of meditative dolphin energy music.

Directed the Decatur Civic Chorus in its performances of Spring is Here and The 23rd Psalm, May 15, 2005

Directed the Decatur Civic Chorus in its performance of O Blessed Night, Dec. 12, 2004.

Presented Schwinn Fei, or the Boulder Art of Bicycle Arranging, a recital concert of original music, June 6, 2004 at Lawrenceville United Methodist Church as part of their monthly concert series.

Choir Director, First Moravian Church of Georgia, 2003-Feb. 2005

Qualified for tax-exempt fiscal agency by the DeKalb Council of the Arts (Georgia) for fundraisings and commissions.

Played role of Chuch in Gazzo’s A Hatful of Rain at the Underground Theater, November, 2002.

Presented sermon "The Spirituality of Music" at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boone, NC, the Foothills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Tryon, NC, and at the Universalist Church of Camp Hill, AL in 2002.

Premiered the choral-piano version of the one-act dramatic oratorio Intimations of Immortality in Boulder, Colorado in a performance involving over 60 performers, May, 2002.

Published a choral setting of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, 2001. It was premiered March, 2001 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder.

Presented sermon “The Spirituality of Music” at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cocoa, FL in 1999, and at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, CO, and at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Colorado Springs, CO in 1998.

Created "Gathering Lights" CD, live unedited improvisations accompanying guided meditations during the "Festival of Humanity" in Reno, NV, April 1998.

Various works performed at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder and other locations, 1997-2002.

Music Education Director for the Boulder Philharmonic Academy’s Arts Alive! 1996 Summer Camp.

Founded and performed with MuNada, an improvisational ensemble incorporating classical Japanese, Hindustani and Western music traditions.

Recitals and workshops presented in Colorado from 1993 to 2002.

Qualified for the Georgia Council of the Arts’ “Artists in Education” program through 1992.

Composed and recorded Can’t Go Back Again and was sound technologist for Neighborhood Playhouse Theater’s production of Lanford Wilson’s play Fifth of July, April, 1990.

Composed and directed music for a dramatic reading of Aeschylus’ The Persians, performed at Emory University February 27 - March 4, 1990.

Wrote, arranged, directed and performed music for 7 Stages Theater’s April, 1989 production of Jim Grimsley’s White People.

Was one of three panelists for a February 26, 1989 international symposium in Ottawa, Ontario entitled "What Are You Doing For the Rest of Your Life?" sponsored by Jewish Student’s Union—Hillel.

Coached Berkmar High School Theatre Program class on process of creating, directing and producing a musical, Winter-Spring, 1989.

Completed apprenticeship with James Faller at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Atlanta; among other works, composed and directed a dramatic musical setting of the "Christ the King" lessons performed

November 20, 1988, and a Christmas carol O Blessed Night performed December 24, 1988.

July, 1987, wrote and recorded incidental music for piano, voice and synthesizer for Tennessee Williams’ Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen, performed by the Dunwoody Stage Door Players.

April-May, 1987, designed the sound and music for the Performance Gallery’s contribution to the Beckett Atlanta Festival.

WORKS PERFORMED:

Dona Nobis Pacem (a cappella choir), original setting of text, performed at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Gwinnett, Easter, April 16, 2006.

The 23^rd Psalm (Baritone, choir, piano and harp; trad. Text), piano only version performed at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Gwinnett, March 27, 2005; first full version performed by the Decatur Civic Chorus, May 15, 2005.

Peace Sonata, a 35 minute three-movement work. Performed by Orfeo at the Lawrenceville Road United Methodist Church, June, 2004.

Intimations of Immortality, a dramatic oratorio in one act. The version performed was an unstaged piano-choral arrangement, May, 2002.

Lincoln’s Address at Gettysburg, a choral setting, performed at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, March, 2001.

Twilight and Night Bring the Dawn, performed by Alan Davis, Marc Heeg, Director. Boulder Unitarian Church, Boulder Unitarian Fellowship, Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, CO. Performed with choir, tenor solo, accompaniment and dance, November - December, 1995, October, 1998.

O Blessed Night (Piano, Choir, Tenor), performed at the Boulder Unity Church, December 24, 1993.

Hatikva, an arrangement commissioned for the Ahavath Achim synagogue’s 100th anniversary, performed by the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet, March 1, 1987.

Dreams of the Heart (Mezzo with Piano Accomp.); performed by Diane Bosse and Walter Huff.

Ring Christmas Bells (arr. for Brass Quintet); performed by the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet.

Woeful Walrus Waltz (Brass Quintet); performed by the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet.

Christmas at Callanwolde Cantata (Organ, two recorders, tenor solo, and children’s chorus); performed by the Callanwolde Children’s Choir and the Callanwolde Recorder Ensemble, and Chris Schauffer, Tenor; directed by the composer.

Lover’s Lullaby (from the Blue Bird; Soprano and Baritone, Piano accompaniment); performed by Southeastern Savoyards.

COMMISSIONS:

Apple Tree Suite, String Orchestra.

Come Into My Life Forever, Soprano-Tenor Duet with String Quartet, Piano and Organ accompaniment.

On Time, Baritone with Piano accompaniment.

Judy, Joy of Martin’s Desiring, Baritone with Piano accompaniment.

Grand Polonaise, Piano.

RECITALS:

Presented Schwinn Fei, or the Boulder Art of Bicycle Arranging, a recital concert of original music, June 6, 2004 at Lawrenceville United Methodist Church as part of their monthly concert series.

Premiered the choral-piano version of the one-act dramatic oratorio Intimations of Immortality in Boulder, Colorado in a performance involving over 60 performers, May, 2002.

"Orfeo’s Senior Recital: 25 Years Too Late," July 29, 2000, a full recital of original music, including a chorus with accompanists, soloists, a dancer, a brass quintet and a string quartet, presented at the Boulder Library Auditorium.

Guest artist, piano recital, Atlanta Music Club.

Guest artist, piano recital, "An Evening of Original Classical Music" at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center.

Piano Recital, "A Musical Extravaganza" of compositions, improvisations, and discussions of musical theory and esthetics at the Cliff Valley Unitarian Church in Atlanta.

PERFORMING/DIRECTING EXPERIENCE:

September, 2000 – March, 2001, music and drama director at The Bridge School, a private middle-high school.

November 21 - 22, 1986, wrote and directed incidental music written for voices and lyre for Theater Emory’s production of Homer’s Iliad.

Music Director, Gateway Private School, 1986-1987

October 25, 1985, gave Master Class in Classical Improvisation at Georgia College, Milledgeville, Ga.

Arranged, directed and performed music for Alice in America, a childrens musical written by Jaz Dorsey.

October 30 - November 8, 1986, wrote, directed and performed incidental music written for voices and organ for Theater Emory’s production of Ibsen’s Brand

Composed, directed and performed incidental music for Horizon Theatre’s May, 1985 production of Gardenia.

Directed choirs for weddings and other occasions.

Live performance, vocal roles in various Gilbert & Sullivan productions by the Southeastern Savoyards, Atlanta, Georgia.

Assistant director of the Savoyard’s production of Pinafore.

Performed with the Emory University Orchestra, String Bass.

AWARDS RECEIVED:

March, 1985, Recognized by Georgia Council of the Arts as qualified for the "Artists in Education" program; completed 18 week residency in Sandersville, Georgia from August to December 1985.

January, 1981, Guest artist, piano recital, for "Young Performers of Atlanta", at Mercer University, sponsored by the Atlanta Music Club.

May, 1980, "Composer of the Year for Georgia", recognition by the National League of American Penwomen.

Introductory Bio

for

Don “Orfeo” Rechtman

June, 2008

Don Orfeo moved to China September, 2007 to pursue his musical career in the country he feels offers the World its best hope for Peace. He is currently an instructor of music and of English as a second language (ESL) at Jiangxi Dayu University, a major private college in Nanchang, the capital city of China's Jiangxi Province. He is also forming a band that consists of himself on keyboard accompanied by 24 Chinese musicians on traditional Chinese instruments, including 36 Chinese drums. The band, called "Peace Renaissance," will perform primarily improvised music that is dedicated to World Peace.

As a musical intuitive, he performs music that communicates much the way a psychic would, only with music instead of words. This works well in a one-on-one situation, but also works in the concert setting and as an adjunct modality to various therapies, especially massage. Similarly, his classical music invokes a spirituality reminiscent of the Romantic music masters.

Don has been active in music for theater since his involvement with The Southeastern Savoyards in 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia USA. In Atlanta, he composed, directed and performed music for Dunwoody Stage Door Players’ production of “Talk to Me Like the Rain,” Horizon Theatre’s production of “Gardenia,” Theater Emory’s productions of Ibsen’s “Brand” and the “Iliad,” the Performance Gallery’s contribution to the Beckett Atlanta Festival, and 7-Stages Theater’s production of Jim Grimsley’s “White People.” He continues his musical theater work at Jiangxi Dayu, coaching students and assisting in productions.

He has received numerous commissions, completed residences through the Georgia and National Councils of the Arts, performed on stage, written for theater, presented master classes at both the university and high school levels, and teaches privately. He taught a course on computers and music at the Naropa Institute in Boulder, and also has more than twelve years experience in technical writing and music typesetting.

He composed music for the installation services of several Unitarian Universalist ministers; works included a selection of verses from Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself,” “Spring is Here” (co written with the Church’s Religious Education class), and “Lincoln’s Address at Gettysburg: 1863.” His “Spirituality of Music” presentation has been given to Unitarian Universalist churches and other groups in Colorado, Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas, and Florida, and an updated version is available with translation for Chinese audiences.

In 2000 he presented a variety of his music in a full-length concert entitled “Orfeo’s Senior Recital: 25 Years Too Late,” and in May 2002 presented a concert of his music in Boulder, Colorado USA. This concert included over 60 performers and was the world premiere of the piano-choral version of his 45-minute work “Intimations of Immortality.”

His current ongoing projects include completing the orchestrated setting of Wordsworth's poem “Intimations of Immortality,” and the creation of made for television videos of two of his songs. He has already written several works since his relocation to China.

Don’s new-age CDs include “Gathering Lights,” musical accompaniment to channeled meditations, and "Songs My Dolphin Taught Me, Vol. 2" one continuous hour of meditative dolphin energy music.