AUGUST 2014

DAVID E. CHVEZ
dave@davidechavez.com 646-881-4216 www.davidechavez.com

EDUCATION
D.M.A., Music Composition, George Mason University, In progress
M.M., Music Composition-Theory, Pennsylvania State University, 2007
Degree Composition Project: Overtones, a one-act opera
Master's Paper: Snapshots in the Family Album: The Structure, Content, and Context of Three Pink
Floyd Guitar Solos
B.M., Music Composition, Pennsylvania State University, 2003

CHURCH MUSIC
Minister of Music and Worship Arts

Front Royal United Methodist Church

2011 - present
Front Royal, VA
As the church's first full-time Minister of Music and Worship Arts, I am called to be a visionary leader of
the music and worship arts ministries for this diverse congregation including:
Keeping music and worship arts ministries grounded in prayer and focused on glorifying God and
leading our congregation in worship
Directing choirs (adults and children), handbell choirs, modern worship bands (adult and youth) and
overseeing volunteer leaders
Writing and arranging new music for choirs/bands and for congregational singing
Leading worship music as a singer, conductor and pianist/keyboardist/organist on a weekly basis
Writing, producing, and directing musical and dramatic productions involving all ages
Developing and leading a new Worship Arts Planning Team with the goal of collaboratively designing
participatory worship services that engage all the senses, as well as increasing creative synergy
between Worship other ministry areas
Designing creative digital visuals (still and video) for projection, banners, print media, and social media
Leading and training the Audio-Visual Tech Team, and acting as a liaison with IT/AV service providers
Visit www.frumc.org and click Watch Online under Worship for video examples.

Church Music Clinician

Various
2012: Contemporary Music Clinician, Massanetta Springs Church Music Conference
2011: Choir Workshop Clinician, Church of the Good Shepherd, Orange CT
2011: Contemporary Music Clinician, Massanetta Springs Church Music Conference

2009 - present

Musician, Church Leadership

Christ Episcopal Church

2008 - 2011
Winchester, VA
Served as a singer, percussionist, guest conductor, and guest organist for the adult choir, and as a
guest pianist and rehearsal coach for youth choir and children's choir.
Mentored high school students in selecting and leading music for youth service.
Elected to vestry; assisted in revamping electronic/print communication strategies.

Interim Music Director

Grace United Methodist Church

2008 - 2009
Middletown, VA
As Interim Music Director, conducted, selected music, and led rehearsals for the adult choir. Coordinated
with the youth choir for joint efforts, substituted on organ and piano, and directed the handbell choir.

DAVID E. CHVEZ AUGUST 2014

Worship Musician

Calvary Baptist Church

State College, PA

2006 - 2007

Served as a worship team leader and pianist/keyboardist/percussionist

Multiple congregations at and around Penn State University, University Park, PA
2001 - 2006
Served as keyboardist and chord chart transcriptionist for an ecumenical band.
Became a regular pianist for a 9pm Sunday campus service.
Served a pivotal role in a growing traditional and contemporary music ministry and new
youth/children's ministry at St. Peter's UCC, including:
Leading worship music in Spanish during a mission trip to Mxico
Leading worship music during youth activities and playing piano and substitute organ on Sundays
Coaching and equipping young musicians for music participation in services and pageants
Writing arrangements, transcriptions, and new music
Serving as the adult choir director and editor of the church newsletter.
Founding a Bible study for young men
Bethlehem United Methodist Church
Thornton, PA
Summers and holidays from 1999
Substituted on piano and percussion for contemporary worship teams, on organ for traditional
worship, and as a guest in the adult choir for Handel's Messiah and other special music.
As a tribute to the outgoing music director, wrote a special arrangement of one of his worship songs
and conducted the choir and brass ensemble.
Campus Ministry
The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC, 1999 - 2001
Founded a new praise and worship band for the Office of Campus Ministry, including equipment
purchasing, musician recruiting, rehearsing and leading in events.
Served as a music leader for Sunday services and other worship gatherings.
St. Cornelius Catholic Church

Chadds Ford, PA

Childhood - 2001

Gained practical experience as a versatile keyboardist and cantor for worship music in various styles, and
wrote music presented by church choir.

ADDITIONAL MUSIC WORK EXPERIENCE

Opera Composer and Music Director
2004 - present
Most recent work: wrote (music) and music-directed, Norton: A Civil War Opera, commissioned by and
premiered by Loudoun Lyric Opera in April 2014. From the review by DC Metro Theater Arts: The
partnership of composer David E. Chvez and librettist Meredith Bean McMath yields a work of both
soaring emotions and intimate poignancy..." More information at loudounlyricopera.com/NortonOpera.
Also composer of one-act operas for adults and children.
Adjunct Professor of Music Theory

Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA

2012 - present

Taught undergraduate music theory courses for music majors, including MUTC 101 (Intro to Music Theory)
and MUTC 206 (Advanced Sight Singing).
2

DAVID E. CHVEZ AUGUST 2014

Collaborative pianist, keyboardist, organist

1998 - present
Served as piano/keyboard/organ accompanist for a variety of singers, instrumentalists, and musical/opera
productions, both amateur and professional. Recent highlights include:
Collaborative pianist at the prestigious Castleton Festival, directed by Lorin Maazel (2013)
Rehearsal pianist and pit orchestra harpsichordist for Shenandoah Conservatory productions of
Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (Spring 2009) and Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream (Spring 2008)
Piano accompanist for high school musicals in May 2013 (Bye Bye Birdie), December 2012 (White
Christmas), May 2012 (Legally Blonde), 2011 (Beauty and the Beast), and 2010 (The Wedding Singer).
Accompanist/Synth Programmer for Children of Eden (Fall 2009) with Fauquier Community Theatre.
Chorus Director

Foxdale Village
Spring 2005
State College, PA
Selected music, rehearsed, conducted, organized and publicized concert for senior-citizen chorus

Music Theory Grader

Penn State School of Music

State College, PA
Graded assignments for theory classes required for music majors.

Fall 2004 - Spring 2005

Graduate Student Summer Resident

PSU Institute for the Arts & Humanities

Summer 2004
University Park, PA
Awarded summer residency to assist completion of degree project (a one-act opera, Overtones)

Teaching Assistant

Penn State School of Music

University Park, PA

Spring 2004

ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Media Services Coordinator
Shenandoah University
2007 - 2011
As the head of the audio-visual/multimedia support department at this multi-campus university, became
known for being effective and providing assistance beyond my job requirements; also became adept at
doing big things with small budgets. Key experience includes:
Supervision and training of technology laypersons and professionals (including 3 full-time employees,
about 20 student workers, and countless students/faculty/staff) in a variety of AV/multimedia
equipment and software.
AV/multimedia long-term planning, research, purchasing, installation, maintenance and personnel
scheduling and distribution within constraints of tight budgets and limited staffing
Forging effective and cordial working relationships with a diverse set of individuals throughout a
complex organization
Collaboration with campus ministry staff on AV for worship
Key accomplishments include:
After less than three years on the job, given the Wilkins Award, the highest award given to a staff
member at Shenandoah University, for outstanding leadership and achievement.
Oversaw revamping of problematic sound reinforcement for outdoor commencement ceremonies,
resulting in what one administrator called the best sound ever.
Oversaw AV implementation and training for new Northern Virginia Campus in Ashburn, VA, including

DAVID E. CHVEZ AUGUST 2014

first classroom installations of SMART Board interactive whiteboards

Transitioned formerly problematic audio recording submission to an online process that was easily
trackable, and consistently documented, distributed, and archived.
Initiated and maintained a new Media Services webpage, including online forms, live chat support,
and a rich series of video and written tutorials.

Senior Retail Consultant

FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers

2005 - 2007
State College, PA
Provided time-critical document production services, shipping assistance and customer service in an
ethnically and educationally diverse community. Gained experience with a variety of printing and binding
systems and software including Adobe Creative Suite

CONFERENCES, PRESENTATIONS, SEMINARS, and WORKSHOPS

A Lecture Recital on Norton: A Civil War Opera. Chautauqua Institution Heritage Lecture Series,
Chautauqua, NY, August 8, 2014.
Art of Songwriting. Taught a songwriting workshop for young composers, Potomac Arts Academy of
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, July 21-25, 2014.
Fresh ideas to enhance performing arts teaching with low-cost (or no-cost) technology.
Presentation for arts educators at the PAVAN (Performing and Visual Arts, Northwest) Professional
Development Day, Winchester, VA, March 19, 2011.
The Wolf and the Lamb: A One-Act Opera for Children. Performance at the ArtScape 2010, Baltimore,
MD, July 2010.
Snapshots in the Family Album: The Structure, Content, and Context of Three Pink Floyd Guitar
Solos. Paper presented at the International Conference of the College Music Society in Zagreb, Croatia,
June 30 -July 7, 2009
The Wolf and the Lamb: A One-Act Opera for Children. Performance at the Crittenden Summer Opera
Workshop, coached student performers, July 2009
The Wolf and the Lamb: A One-Act Opera for Children. Performance presented at the National
Conference of the National Opera Association, New York, NY, January 6, 2007

AWARDS and HONORS

Education Grant Recipient, Marion Park Lewis Foundation (2012, 2013, and 2014)
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) Composer Residency (2013) for composing a new opera
Certification, Level 1 LoVetri Method (2010)
Graduate School Grant-in-Aid [Full-Tuition] (2004-2005)
Graduate Student Summer Resident, Penn State Institute for the Arts and Humanities (2004)
Bunton-Waller Scholarship, Penn State University (2001-2003)
Bryce and Jonelle Jordan Scholarship, Penn State University (2001-2003)
Archdiocesan [Full-Tuition] Scholarship, The Catholic University of America (1999-2001)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Phi Mu Alpha
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)
Phi Kapp Phi
Access an updated version of this document any time at www.davidechavez.com.
4