Chapman, Christopher

Biography

Dr. Christopher Chapman is a Professor of Music and Director of Bands for the Central Michigan University School of Music, where he conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Symphony Band and coordinates the graduate wind band conducting area. His ensembles have gained notoriety and praise from composers and audiences alike and have been featured in performance sites from Carnegie Hall to concert halls in the United States as well as Japan, China and Taiwan. Wind bands under his direction have been invited guests at regional CBDNA conferences. Conducted commercial recording projects include: The Five Changes; Currents; Scenic Meditations; and David Maslanka's Mass, produced by Mark Records.

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Chapman holds degrees in music from the Ohio State University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Washington. Dr. Chapman has appeared as a conductor, clinician and lecturer throughout the United States. He has also been a contributing author in A Composer's Insight: Thoughts, Analysis and Commentary on Contemporary Masterpieces for Wind Band, a series of books on contemporary wind band composers for Meredith Music Publications, a subsidiary of the Hal Leonard Corporation and Teaching Music through Performance by GIA Publications. He has served as a clinician and guest conductor throughout the United States, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Canada.

In 2015, Dr. Chapman was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. He is a past president of the Mid-American Conference Band Director’s Association and has served as the Northwest Division president of the College Band Directors National Association and Northwest Divisional Chair of the National Band Association. He holds honorary memberships of the Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity, the Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, where he has served as the Co-Governor of the Western District, the Tau Beta Sigma honorary band sorority, Sigma Alpha Iota Fraternity, and Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity. Other organizations include the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, National Band Association, Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, National Association for Music Educators, and Michigan Music Educators Association.