About DLJH...DLJH Musical Enterprises was established in September 1984 at the start of Darin’s sophomore year of college at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. In the beginning it offered marching band arranging, drum-major training, woodwind director for marching band, and vocal soloist. Within a few years DLJH Musical Enterprises also offered show choir arranging, acting in musicals, and directing musical theatre.
In 1990, DLJH Musical Enterprises was transferred to Dayton, Ohio where it continued grow more as an educational company highlighting private lessons in voice, saxophone and piano. As of 2002, DLJH Musical Enterprises, now located in Kettering, Ohio, continues to offer many of the original services, as well as adjudication and clinician assistance for show choir, musical theatre, and contemporary worship planning. Darin's writing has also expanded to writing columns, and articles on adoption, older child adoption, and single parent adoption. |
The Haasienda...Darin was born in Elwood, Indiana in 1964. Darin Jolliffe (pronounced, “Jah-liff”) was adopted by his step-father in 1984, and added the name “Haas” (pronounced, “Hahz”) to his birth name. However, as a teacher he is known just as “Mr. Haas.”
While keeping up his very fun career in the performing arts, Darin, as a single adoptive father, taught full time and taught from home, and was quite involved with his sons in choir, band, marching band, winter percussion, show choir, band boosters, choir boosters, school musicals, chaperoning events, volunteering for and chairing events in which his sons were involved. Darin also worked with the Beavercreek High School show choir, directing musicals, and volunteered with ACTION Adoption Services where he often taught classes, and served as president of the board for three years. Darin is the proud father of five adopted sons (there were 10 foster sons who passed through The Haasienda), and is a strong advocate for older child adoption, and single parent adoption. He continues to live in Kettering, Ohio, a southern Dayton suburb with his youngest son, three dogs and two cats. And, music. Music is always present and very much alive in The Haasienda! |
Career...Darin began his teaching career in 1984, and continues to teach today from his home studio in Kettering, Ohio. His company, DLJH Musical Enterprises, boasts a number of job descriptions which fit nicely with all his many interests in the performing arts:
* Teacher (voice, piano, saxophone, student leadership) * Playwright/Composer * Musical Theatre Director * Columnist (writing about being a single dad, older child adoption) * Clinician & Adjudicator (marching bands, show choirs, theatre) Darin’s current students are some of the finest musicians and performers in The Miami Valley of Ohio. Most of the high school students are section leaders and soloists in their music ensembles, and most of the musical theatre students are always the leads in Muse Machine, their school and community productions. His former students continue to blaze paths in the performing arts and music education: * over thirty are in Broadway and/or professional productions throughout the United States and Europe several perform with opera companies * several serve as conductors or administrators for performing arts organizations * over twenty are band or choral directors for schools many more: ** conduct church choirs, community choirs or bands ** direct professional, college, high school or community theatre ** are involved in music while having full time careers in the non-performing arts |
Training...While an Emens Scholar and music education student at Ball State University, Darin was a singer-dancer, and arranger with the internationally known Ball State University Singers; a soloist and section leader for the Chamber Choir; the first undergraduate conductor for a major ensemble; founder and conductor of the Ball State Children’s Chorus; a member of men’s chorus, marching band, concert band, and involved in community music and theatre productions in Muncie, Indiana.
Ball State University 1983-1989 B.S. Music Education: * Area Major (Band, Orchestra, Choir, General Music); * Conducting Endorsement Emens Scholar recipient for outstanding leadership achievement (1983-1989) Noted Events: * Ball State Chamber Choir; 1983-1989; toured Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Lichtenstein, 1987. * Assistant conductor – choral department; 1986-1988; first undergraduate to serve in capacity of assistant conductor * Founded the Ball State Children’s Choir, 1987-1988 * Ball State University Singers: Singer/Dancer 1983, 1984, 1985; Arranger 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987; Other ensemble participation: Ball State Marching Band Concert Band Concert Choir Statesmen Choral Union Symphony Band Summer Concert Band Summer Concert Choir Studied voice with Mary Hagopian Studied saxophone with George Wolfe Piano studies with Katharine Rutledge Holly Hughes Private Choral Conducting with: Dr. Douglas Amman Dr. Fredrick Mountford Dr. Stuart Scott Dr. Timothy Brimmer Private Instrumental Conducting with: Dr. Joseph Scagnoli Dr. Lewis Strouse Dr. Wayne Dorothy |
Interviews• Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
• Consectetur adipiscing elit • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet • Consectetur adipiscing elit |