BIOGRAPHY
Brandon Chase Di Noto is an American conductor, vocalist, educator & composer. He is currently a member of the School of Music faculty at Azusa Pacific University where he directs the Bel Canto Women’s Choir and teaches undergraduate & graduate courses in choral music, conducting and musicology; and the Assistant Director of Sterling Ensemble Los Angeles. Di Noto has studied conducting with Cristian Grases, Daniel Jackson, Michelle Jensen, Larry Livingston, Jo-Michael Scheibe, Tram Sparks, & Nick Strimple; voice with Isabel Bayrakdarian, J. Craig Johnson, Amy Mein, & Michael Sokol; and composition with Neal Desby, Victor Labenske, Z. Randall Stroope, Frank Ticheli, Dale Trumbore & Veronika Krausas.
Di Noto has taught/directed K-12, College, Graduate, Community & Professional level music courses/ensembles/programs throughout Southern California including: Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara Choral Society, UC Santa Barbara, Classical Academy High School, and Maranatha Christian Schools. He has prepared choruses for performances with noted singers and ensembles including: Joyce DiDonato, Sangeeta Kaur, Hila Plitmann and Voctave. An advocate for new music, Di Noto conducted the world premiere of One Heart by GRAMMY-Winning composer Danaë Xanthe Vlasse and commissioned Ubi Caritas et Amor (Deus Ibi Est) by Lauren Biggs, recipient of the 2024 Regional ACDA Raymond Brock commission. As a classically trained baritone, he has sung throughout the United States and Europe. Recent engagements include National & Regional ACDA Conferences, Comic-Con 2022, the International Musical Eisteddfod, the 2023 NCCO National Conference, and the recordings: Gregorian Meditations: Choral Works of Forgotten French Masters Desenclos and Langlais and Echoes of Grace: Choral Music of Patti Drennan, released in 2021 & 2024 with the USC Thornton Chamber Singers and Sterling Ensemble Los Angeles. Di Noto’s work a composer has been performed by Choral Arts Initiative.
Di Noto is currently pursuing a D.M.A. in Choral Music at the USC Thornton School of Music, where he also serves as a Teaching Assistant. He previously earned his M.M. in Choral Music at USC; and completed his undergraduate education in Music & Managerial and Organizational Communication at Point Loma Nazarene University. Di Noto resides in Los Angeles, and enjoys cooking, exercising, hiking, traveling, water sports, & spending time with his friends and loved ones.
EDUCATION & RELEVANT EMPLOYMENT AT A GLANCE
EDUCATION
D.M.A. Choral Music - USC Thornton School of Music - IN PROGRESS
Major Field: Choral Music
Academic Field: Musicology
Elective Fields: Composition & Instrumental Conducting
M.M. Choral Music - USC Thornton School of Music
Concentrations: Composition, Conducting, Music Education
B.A. Music and Managerial & Organizational Communication - Point Loma Nazarene University
Concentrations (Music): Composition, Conducting, Vocal Performance
Concentrations (Communication): Marketing, Organizational Management
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT
Adjunct Professor of Choral Music, Conducting and Musicology; School of Music, Azusa Pacific University - Azusa, California
Teaching Assistant, USC Thornton School of Music - Los Angeles, California
Assistant Director & Vocalist (Baritone), Sterling Ensemble Los Angeles - Los Angeles, California
PAST EMPLOYMENT
Director of Choral and Vocal Ensembles, Classical Academy High School - Escondido, California
Conductor, Sing! Children's Choir, Music Academy of the West - Santa Barbara, California
Assistant to the Conductor, Santa Barbara Choral Society - Santa Barbara, California
Interim Instructor & Conductor, Singing Gauchos, UC Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara, California
Assistant Site Director, Bach to Rock: America's Music School - Encinitas, California
Long-Term Substitute K-12 Music Teacher: Maranatha Christian Schools - San Diego, California
Director of Choral Music, Oceanside First Presbyterian Church - Oceanside, California
Founder & Artistic Director, Pacific Harmonix - San Diego, California
Associate Conductor & Teaching Assistant, University Chorus, USC Thornton School of Music - Los Angeles, California
Associate Conductor & Teaching Assistant, Chamber Orchestra, Point Loma Nazarene University - San Diego, California
Associate Conductor & Teaching Assistant, Chorale, Point Loma Nazarene University - San Diego, California
