George Marriner Maull, Artistic Director

EDUCATOR & PUBLIC TELEVISION PERSONALITY

George Marriner Maull, Artistic Director of The Discovery Orchestra and three-time Emmy-nominated public television personality, has helped millions of individuals nationwide become more perceptive listeners and to heighten their classical music listening pleasure through his Discovery Concerts™ distributed by American Public Television.  These programs, including his signature course Fall in Love with Music originally released as an 8-part public television series,  may be found on Amazon Prime and also streamed on PBS Passport – free to public television station members.

Whether on the podium or in lecture settings, his enthusiasm for classical music is contagious.  His blog posts and thought leadership pieces have been featured by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and worldwide on the web by Minnesota Public Radio, London-based Bachtrack,  The Violin Channel,  Pick the Brain, and Thrive Global.  His tweets and YouTube Discovery Orchestra Chats continue to attract followers on six continents, and public radio stations WBJC-FM in Baltimore, WWFM in New Jersey and NPR-KJZZ in Phoenix have featured interviews with Maestro Maull.

His own public radio show Inside Music,  first aired in 2018, is broadcast on 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays each month at 7:30 pm Eastern Time on WWFM 89.1, The Classical Network in central New Jersey.  Inside Music may also be live-streamed worldwide at https://www.wwfm.org/. Prior episodes may be streamed 24/7 at https://discoveryorchestra.org/radio-shows/. Maestro Maull has been the host of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Classical Overtures since 2003.  These pre-concert chats have been presented before such ensembles as The Philadelphia Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Salzburg Mozarteum, New York Philharmonic and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, as well as artists Yuja Wang, Lang Lang, Joshua Bell, Yo-Yo Ma, Renée Fleming and Itzhak Perlman.

HONORS & AWARDS

• Wharton Arts Annual Education Award (2024)
• Telly Award, Discover Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony (2023)
• Two Telly Awards, Discover the Firebird (2020)
• Albert Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, Marquis Who’s Who (2018)
• Alumni Fellow, University of Louisville (2018)
• Two Telly Awards, Fall in Love with Music (2016)
• Emmy Nomination, Discover Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (2014)
• Three Telly Awards, Discover Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (2013)
• Emmy Nomination, Discover Beethoven’s 5th (2012)
• Three Telly Awards, Discover Beethoven’s 5th (2011)
• New Jersey Excellence in Arts Award (2005)
• Emmy Nomination, Bach to the Future (2004)
• Biography in Who’s Who in America (1997 – present)
• Conductor Laureate, New Jersey Youth Symphony (1997)
• Distinguished Alumnus, University of Louisville (1994)
• Art Effects: Young & Noteworthy, WNET-13 New York, Documentary (1987)
• 1st Prize, 34^th European Muziek Festival voor de Jeugd (1985)
• Medal of the Belgian Ministry of Culture (1983)
• 1st Prize, 32^nd European Muziek Festival voor de Jeugd (1983)

CONDUCTOR

Founder and artistic director of The Discovery Orchestra, his former posts include music director and conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, Louisville Ballet, New Jersey Youth Symphony, Bloomingdale Chamber Orchestra, Plainfield Symphony and the Eastern Suffolk Symphony. He has appeared as a guest conductor with the Kentucky Opera, New York Virtuosi Chamber Symphony, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Washington Square Festival Orchestra in New York City and the Orchestras of the Aaron Copland School of Music and the University of Louisville School of Music.  He has conducted performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, as well as in England, Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland, Hungary and Romania.  His musical affiliations in New Jersey began with his appointment for the 1979-80 season as assistant conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

RECORDINGS

His CD releases conducting the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in compositions by Max Schubel, Ernst Levy and Frank Ezra Levy with cello soloist Scott Ballantyne are on the Naxos label.

VIOLIST

Formerly a professional violist with the American Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Festival Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Caramoor Festival Orchestra and Louisville Orchestra, George Marriner Maull had the privilege of performing under a number of the most celebrated musicians of the 20^th century including Igor Stravinsky, Pierre Boulez, Sir George Solti, Arthur Fiedler, Aaron Copland, Lukas Foss, and Robert Shaw.

TRAINING

A Philadelphia native, he received choral training and studied piano at St. Peter’s Choir School under Harold Wells Gilbert and studied viola with Irving Segall of The Philadelphia Orchestra. During high school he was a student of pianist, composer and educator Dr. Saul Feinberg, who became his life-long mentor.  At the University of Louisville, he received his bachelor of music and master of music degrees in viola performance, and was a student of Louisville Orchestra concertmaster Paul Kling. He later continued his studies at The Juilliard School with composers Robert Smolensky and Lawrence Widdoes.  His conducting teachers were Austrian conductor and pedagogue Richard Johannes Lert and Jorge Mester.

INTERVIEWS

David Osenberg of WWFM-The Classical Network  interviews Maestro Maull about The Discovery Orchestra and music listening.
Part 1 & Part 2.

Jeff Friedman interviews Maestro Maull about increasing the pleasure you get from listening to classical music!

Maestro Maull discusses TDO’s YouTube Discovery Chats and the ‘discovery process’ with Frank Macioce of HomeTowne TV.

John Patten of The Warren Patch interviews Maestro Maull after TDO receives a 2011-2012 grant from The New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Refer to "In The News" for a full listing of interviews and other articles.

FOR BOOKINGS

Guest appearances, contact pamina282@gmail.com.

Orchestra Executive Staff

RICK KALLER, Executive Director

Rick received his Bachelor of Arts in music and history from Rutgers College and his Masters of Business Administration from New York University. He has spent much of his professional career in music education publishing, having worked for Silver Burdett Ginn (Pearson), McGraw-Hill Education, and Hal Leonard Corporation. He managed the development of numerous music curricula and supplemental music resources that have been used by schools nationwide, including The Music Connection, Spotlight on Music, and Music Express Magazine.

Rick started piano lessons at age 4. He gave his first solo recital at age 9 and won several local and state competitions. In high school, he attended The Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division as a Gina Bachauer International Piano Scholarship Award recipient, studying under Leonard Eisner. He continued his piano studies in college at the Eastman School of Music as a student of Barry Snyder. He currently serves as the Director of Music at Kitchell Memorial Presbyterian Church in East Hanover, NJ.

Prior to his current role, Rick served on the Orchestra’s Education and Strategic Planning committees for several years, bringing a strong background in arts education, project management, and product development to the organization. As Executive Director, he has managed the development and implementation of a new 5-year strategic plan, provided support for the Board as it grows and diversifies, and increased foundational support received by the organization.

Email: Rick@DiscoveryOrchestra.org

VIRGINIA JOHNSTON, Finance Director

Virginia Johnston received her Bachelor of Music (Summa Cum Laude, University Scholar) from Syracuse University and her Master of Music (with Honors) from Boston University in both composition and clarinet performance. She has also studied choral conducting at Westminster Choir College through their Continuing Education department. Starting as an Administrator with the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey (TDO’s predecessor organization) in 1992, she assumed the responsibilities of Managing Director in 1999 and Executive Director in 2009, and remained in that role for 13 years. As of September 2022, Ginny assumed the Finance Director position. She brings strong organizational, problem-solving and grant writing skills to The Discovery Orchestra. She has served as Executive Producer for several of the Orchestra’s public television programs. Ginny previously worked as Music Director at the Springfield Emanuel United Methodist Church and is a professional free-lance clarinetist, conductor and composer in the tri-state area. Her works, several of which are published, have been performed by the Society for New Music, the Tunnel Vision Writer’s Project of Montclair and the New Jersey Youth Symphony at Alice Tully Hall, among others. In 1992, she co-founded Triad Arts Ensemble, a non-profit performing arts organization. Through Triad, Ginny has co-chaired the annual Canticles for Life AIDS Benefit Concerts in New Jersey since 1997. Over $200,000 has been raised in this effort to date. Since 1995, she has been Conductor of the Triad Vocal Ensemble, a mixed adult community choir specializing in accessible contemporary repertoire as well as traditional works, with a focus on female composers and New Jersey composers. Ginny currently serves as an Assistant Conductor of the Garden State Symphonic Band and a substitute conductor for the Maplewood Community Band. Ms. Johnston performs locally as a singer-songwriter in folk/rock and jazz styles and has released two CD’s of original material. She lives in Maplewood, NJ with her family. Email: Ginny@DiscoveryOrchestra.org.

CHRISTOPHER BARRETT POLITAN, External Relations Director

As the founder and principal of Give, Get, Grow Philanthropic Advisory, Christopher is an experienced strategist, advisor, and management consultant having worked with organizations and individuals throughout the nonprofit sector across the United States. For almost 25 years, his work with nonprofit organizations has been grounded in a deep understanding that it is tough leading an organization. His work seeks to provide insight, counsel, and strategy for creating sustainable, innovative, and deeply engaged organizations.

In addition to working directly with nonprofits, he also serves as philanthropic counsel to individuals/family offices/family foundations. His work aims to connect people to emerging thought leaders and ideas throughout the nonprofit sector. He seeks to bridge the gap between traditional philanthropy and venture philanthropy, helping individuals make focused and substantive impact.

As a volunteer, he is a long-serving member of several nonprofit boards and presently serves as the board secretary and Strategic Planning Chair of Chicago Dancemakers Forum—an organization providing annual unrestricted grants to choreographers and dancemakers in Chicago. Additionally, he serves as the Strategic Planning Chair for DVLF—a grantmaking organization for the LGBTQ+ community in the Delaware Valley region. Christopher also serves on the board of Uplift Center for Grieving Children – the largest provider of free grief support for children and young people in Philadelphia.

CHRISTINE THORSEN, Project Manager

A Cum Laude graduate of Montclair State University, Christine comes to us with considerable corporate experience, first at Merrill Lynch/Bank of America in New York City where she served as Assistant Vice-President, Executive Services; Vice-President/Group Administrator; and Director, Global Conference, Dining and Training Services. She has also formerly been Administrative Assistant of Student Services at the Unity Charter School in Morristown and will continue as part-time remote Club Administrator of the Kellogg Club in Morristown as she now serves The Discovery Orchestra part-time.  Email:  Christine@DiscoveryOrchestra.org.

MICHAEL AVAGLIANO, Operations & Outreach Coordinator

Michael Avagliano, a graduate of Indiana University and Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, is currently Music Director and Conductor of both the Summit Symphony Orchestra and the Somerset Symphony and was formerly Music Director and Conductor of the Manalapan Symphony Orchestra. He was formerly Executive Director of the New Jersey State Youth Orchestra.  In addition he is a professional violinist and violist and a member of the Madison String Quartet.  He is also the Director of the Drew University Orchestra and an Adjunct Lecturer at Drew. Email:  Michael@DiscoveryOrchestra.org.

Board Members

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

AMBASSADORS

We are very grateful for the support provided by our 2024-2025 Season sponsors!

The Kosloski Family Foundation

Robert Scott, Managing Partner

The Frank & Lydia Bergen Foundation

The Tiger Baron Foundation

“Discover Symphonic Masterworks” series sponsored by
Dan & Gail Kopp
David & Ellen Williams

“Inside Music” on WWFM - The Classical Network sponsored by
Main Street Wealth Management – Robert Scott, Managing Partner
Alfonso Finocchiaro (in memory of Diana Finocchiaro)

“Inside Music” Episode sponsors: 
Bruce & Carla Hogg
Dan & Gail Kopp
Yulia Geniush
Alix Weisz

 “Inside Music” Live Discovery Concert Broadcast sponsored by
Bruce & Carla Hogg
Stephen Reynolds

“Discover Jazz for the Holidays” Intimate Evening Concert sponsored by
Anne Herbert
Charles Kramer
Dr. Doug Munch and Dr. Jean Merrill

“Discover Angelitos Negros” sponsored by
Sandra Braddy-Hall
Dyan Bryson
Robert & Sandra Brown Sherman

Community Outreach Programs sponsored by
Dyan Bryson
Hugh Clark
Ernst Wessel Foundation