“A musical fire-brand with a razor-sharp wit and belly-laugh-inducing sense of humor. Without a doubt, Chase leaves each corner of the world he touches better than he found it.” – Ted Brimeyer

Education/Experience

Chase is an award-winning composer who received a B.M. in Music Education from Simpson College in 2016 with a focus on vocal performance, piano performance, composition, and both choral and opera conducting. In 2021, Chase graduated from Portland State University with an M.M. in Choral Conducting, with a focus on choral conducting and arranging. Outside of his academic requirements, he has taken additional coursework in vocal pedagogy, piano pedagogy, symphonic and string literature, and orchestral conducting. Chase has been blessed to find mentorship through a number of invaluable conductors, performers, and composers including Dr. Bruce Browne, Prof. Debra Glaze, Maestro Carlos Kalmar, Dr. Robert Larsen, Prof. Matthew Lau, Dr. Bernard McDonald, Dr. Timothy McMillin, Dr. Michael Patterson, and Dr. Ethan Sperry.

Chase is currently based in Ankeny, Iowa where he works as the Director of Music for Capitol Hill Lutheran Church in Des Moines and the Vocal Music Accompanist for Timberline Middle School in the Waukee Community School District. Apart from CHLC and Timberline, he also works as a freelance composer, vocalist, accompanist, music director, clinician, and adjudicator. Prior to his time in Ankeny, Chase spent 15 years directing over 30 separate ensembles ranging from children’s choirs to university choirs, show choir ensembles to opera choruses. Academically, Chase held the position of Vocal Music Director at Bettendorf High School (2021-2024) and Harlan Community School District (2016-2019). He also spent two years as the Graduate Director for the University and Rose choirs of Portland State University (2019-2021). Apart from the ensembles he has directed, he has also enjoyed teaching coursework in vocal techniques, composition, music theory, and music history. To see Chase’s resume, click here.

Chase currently serves the Iowa Choral Director’s Association as the chair for Self-Published Works. His recent projects have focused on bringing visibility to Iowa’s self-published composers, highlighting their works, and engaging with the community of composers within Iowa to build community and resources for those who self-publish.

Accolades/Accomplishments

His compositional accomplishments include being awarded by the Iowa Choral Directors Association and the Iowa Composers Forum in 2019 for his SSAA piece “Love Came Down at Christmas.” He was also awarded by the Iowa Composers Forum in 2015 for his vocal piece “To Celia.” In 2016 he was awarded by the Morningside College Composition Festival and The Choral Project of San Jose, CA for his SATB piece “Ave Maria.” His works were also featured by the Portland State Choirs in their virtual concerts Pandemic Premiers and Still We Rise.

Chase enjoys researching the ways in which choir can be more inclusive to all singers and enjoys sharing his passions in music, presenting at local and regional levels. Presentation highlights include Inclusivity in Choir: Uplifting and Engaging Trans and Nonbinary Voices (Iowa Choral Director’s Association Summer Symposium, 2022 – Cam Mears, co-presenter), Treatment and Prevention of Musculoskeletal Injuries for Conductors (CMS Great Plains, 2021), Considerations of the Effect of Hormone Treatment on the Trans Male Voice (CMS Rocky Mountain Conference, 2020), and She’s Home: Healing Through Composition” (Simpson College Research Symposium, 2013).

Personal Joys

When Chase isn’t making music, he enjoys spending quality time with friends and loved ones, doing a mean “Pig the Pug” impression for his beloved niece and nephew, and yelling at UPS trucks alongside his 8-year-old corgi, Rosie.