Mark Daniel Merritt

Mark Daniel Merritt (born 1961 in New London, CT[1]) (ASCAP) is an American composer and arranger with published choral works mostly for church choirs. Merritt's commissions,[2][3] include a commission in 2007 partially funded by the Kentucky Arts Council, to compose the score to the musical River Dreams,[4] which had its world premiere in July of that year.[5] River Dreams is an adaptation of the book, A Long Row to Hoe, the autobiography of Kentucky author Billy C. Clark.[6] The play was written by Betty Peterson. In an interview with the Daily Independent newspaper in Ashland, Kentucky, the director of the play Edward Figgins states, "Music by composer Mark Daniel Merritt captures the mood of Peterson's lyrics.[7]"

The American Organist gave the following review of Merritt's published Christmas piece, "Deo Gratias:"

This setting of "Adam lay ybounden" will give Boris Ord's a run for its money. Well crafted and singable, this is sung with "traditional" harmonic language. An accompaniment for rehearsal is provided.[8]

Originally from Noank, CT, Merritt now resides in the Columbia, South Carolina area. He earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina. His doctoral work included a lecture recital and paper on the Mystic Area Ecumenical Festival, an annual choral event which 50-year history includes leadership by nationally known choral luminaries including Helen Kemp, Hal Hobson, Michael Kemp, Jamie Spillane and many others. Dr. Merritt was privileged to grow up singing in the festival and was invited to conduct it in 2017.

References
  1. Town of Groton, CT Birth Records
  2. "Stepping Out" The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Winter 2006
  4. Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Daily News, May 25, 2007
  5. Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Daily News, July 27, 2007
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2009-03-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. The Daily Independent Newspaper, Ashland, Kentucky, July 2007
  8. The American Organist, March, 2008
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