Kris Chapman
New Music Conductor & Program Director
Conductor Kris Chapman just completed his second year at the University of Houston Moores School of Music pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting, under the tutelage of Moores School Director of Orchestras Franz Anton Krager. In addition to working with the Symphony, Chamber and Ballet Orchestras, Mr. Chapman is assistant conductor of the Moores Opera Center working with Music Director Raymond Harvey. He currently serves as Artistic Director of the Houston Heights Orchestra as well as Program Direcor and New Music Conductor for Zodiac Music Festival and Academy, a chamber music festival held each summer in the south of France. Before beginning his Doctoral studies, Mr. Chapman was Director of Bands and Lead Faculty at Lone Star College-Montgomery where he conducted the Wind Ensemble and the Jazz Big Band in addition to teaching courses in music appreciation, music literature and music theory. Before this appointment, Mr. Chapman served as Artistic Director & Conductor for the Kingwood Pops Orchestra in Kingwood, TX.
In 2002, Mr. Chapman earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education (summa cum laude) from Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas. He had the fortunate opportunity to guest conduct the Sterling College Concert Chorale and Orchestra in selections from Handel's Messiah, including the "Hallelujah Chorus." After graduation, Mr. Chapman began his teaching career in the Kansas public school system as an elementary music teacher and band director before moving to Virginia to pursue a Master's Degree in Instrumental Conducting at George Mason University where he was a student of Anthony Maiello and Mark Camphouse. While at GMU, Mr. Chapman served as Assistant Conductor of the University Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.
Mr. Chapman has worked with Kenneth Kiesler at the Conductors’ Retreat at Medomak as well as Eugene Corporon and Dennis Fisher at the Conductor’s Collegium at the University of North Texas. As a participant in the Eastman School of Music Summer Conducting Institute, Mr. Chapman worked with Neil Varon and the Rochester Philharmonic. In addition, he studied with the world-renowned conducting pedagogue Larry Rachleff at the International Conducting Workshop and Festival, where he had the privilege of conducting the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic. Mr. Chapman was also selected as a Conducting Fellow to the 2010 Conducting Institute for Music Educators at the Julliard School in New York City. He is an active member of the Houston Arts Community.