Connor Doran has spent his entire life steeped in music. He began piano lessons when he was 6. His grandfather was a dedicated guitarist who would serenade the family with folk music. Doran was deeply involved in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District music department in addition to singing with community choruses and the CLO. He reflects, “I was surrounded by these musical professionals and teachers who just shaped my love for collaboration, theater, production, and performance.” His time in the district charted a course for his career. Doran recalls, “BWSD provided me with so many opportunities to learn, grow, and test how far I could go with my musicianship. It was so formative for me and shaped the musician I am today. Becoming a conductor was the perfect marriage of music-making and collaboration.”
His musical ambition and experience have led him to work for Disney Theatrical Productions as Associate Conductor/Keyboard 1 for the National Tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Doran explains, “My main job is to support the show on all things musically related. For instance, on a day-to-day basis, I am playing the show every night, playing rehearsals, coaching singers, and conducting the show 1 performance a week or more as needed.” It’s a position that he found through a combination of hard work and good fortune. He notes that he secured the role, “Totally by luck and chance. I had moved to New York City 2 years ago and pounded the pavement, made some strides, shadowed as many musicians as I could and would cold email music directors to make a connection. After a very busy February I did another batch of emails and one of those was Michael Kosarin (Koz), Alan Menken’s music director and the current conductor of Aladdin on Broadway. I had shadowed the show 2 times before with the associates and wanted to shadow Koz specifically. When I emailed him he saw my resume and conducting degree and asked if I had any footage. It just so happened that I did and prepared the videos and sent it to him. He liked what he saw I suppose and invited me to the matinee to watch him and then we ended up getting dinner. During that I was starstruck sitting across from a Disney/music legend and asked as many questions as I could. Towards the end he asked if I had any interest in touring and I was reluctant to say 'yes' at first. I didn't want to get pigeonholed into the tour life… (which there is nothing wrong with, but I just know I wanted to be in NYC as I had a lot of traction gaining). He very politely said, ‘I totally understand, but let me tell you about Beauty anyways.’ I listened intently, and soon the dinner wrapped up, and we parted ways, and I went to shadow Gypsy on Broadway that same evening.
When I got home I talked to my family and friends and realized I made a terrible mistake. The next morning I emailed Koz and said something along the lines of ‘thank you for everything, I want to learn more about the tour, I am interested.’ And he replied, ‘I’m happy to hear this, I had already forwarded your materials over last night and the team is extremely impressed by you.’ And the rest is history, so to speak.”
He encourages students to pursue their dreams wholeheartedly. Doran shares, “Say ‘yes’ to every opportunity you’re presented with. You never know who you’ll meet and what it will teach you. Be open and flexible - be uncomfortable with new things — this is where the most growth happens. Study all you can about your craft — nobody was ever blamed for being ‘over prepared.’ And when you have any doubt, let the music save you.”
