Jacob Bitinas
Music Educator
Welcome
Jacob Bitinas is teaching his ninth year as the assistant orchestra director of Dickerson Middle School in Marietta, GA. Every day, Mr. Bitinas provides instruction to 450 orchestra students in sixth through eighth grade. These students make up six heterogeneous orchestra classes with up to 80 students in a single class. At the core of Mr. Bitinas’ philosophy of music education is to develop a deep appreciation for music and to expose each student to music history in an engaging way that does not stifle curiosity. He is currently enrolled in a Master's of Music program for music composition at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
As an educator, Mr. Bitinas has had the opportunity to present workshops at Columbus State University, The University of Alabama, and the Alabama Music Educators Association on topics related to early music, double bass playing, and music history education.
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As an active performer, Jacob Bitinas can be heard playing viola da gamba or double bass on concerts and recitals of early and modern music throughout the southeast. He has performed with The Atlanta Opera, New Trinity Baroque, the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra, Ritornello Baroque Ensemble, and as a soloist for the Brasstown Concert Association and Lauda Musicam of Atlanta. His enthusiasm for modern music written for early instruments extends beyond just performance.
As a composer, Jacob Bitinas has been recognized by the Viola da Gamba Society of America as one of the three winners of the 2017 International Leo M. Traynor Composition Competition for new music written for viols. His piece, "Eidolon No. 3", was premiered at the VdGSA Conclave in 2017 and is published by the Viola da Gamba Society. Mr. Bitinas is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and has worked closely with Dr. Stephen Lias, Dr. Tyler Taylor, and Martha Bishop as he continues to diversify his compositional output.
In August of 2017, Mr. Bitinas was selected as a recipient of six viols through the Viola da Gamba Society of America's consort loan program. With the instruments loaned through this program, Mr. Bitinas introduces 7th and 8th grade students at Dickerson Middle School to music history and viola da gamba by engaging them in the study of instruments in the viol family. Each year, up to 25 students receive coaching and lessons in groups of 5 before school each day as part of the "Dickerson Viol Consort" led by Mr. Bitinas.
Throughout his professional career, Jacob Bitinas has retained a strong passion for education. He eagerly awaits the opportunity to change the lives of his students and his community. His mission is to be an educator of all people, so that they may more wholly accept and understand why music is such a powerful discipline.
"My Primary source of pride in Jacob is his potential to be a superb teacher... his organizational skills are excellent, and he is totally dependable."
- Dr. Anne C. Witt, past president of the American String Teachers Association
Jacob Bitinas is an active performer on both double bass and viola da gamba. He has performed concerts with the Atlanta Opera, New Trinity Baroque, North Carolina Baroque Orchestra, Georgia Philharmonic, Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, Montevallo Opera, Huxford Symphony Orchestra, Ritornello Baroque Ensemble, Lauda Musicam of Atlanta, and as soloist in the Brasstown Concert Association's Young Artist Series.