Meet the Conductor

 

Chuck Stewart, Interim Conductor

Chuck Stewart is known for communicating his love for music in every performance he gives. The musicians he conducts have routinely praised him for the clarity of his gestures and his collaborative nature on the podium. Stewart currently serves as the Interim Conductor for the Chandler Symphony Orchestra. He is also a regular Guest Conductor throughout the Phoenix Valley. Stewart has previously served as Assistant Conductor of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra in Muncie, Indiana. Additionally, he served as Music Director and Conductor of the East Central Indiana Chamber Orchestra, a community orchestra based out of Muncie. While at the helm of the East Central Indiana Chamber Orchestra, Stewart expanded the season, reinstated the Youth Concerto Competition, and began a Side-by-Side Concert partnership with a local youth orchestra.

In addition to his work with professional and community orchestras, Stewart is an advocate of music education. He is currently the Director of Orchestras at BASIS Phoenix, Conductor of the North Valley Youth Orchestra, the Vice-President of High School Orchestra Activities for the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association, and the West Region Orchestra Chair for the Arizona Music Educators Association. Prior to his appointments in Arizona, Stewart served as the Head of Instrumental Music and Director of Orchestras at Encore High School for the Arts in Hesperia, California. While residing in Indiana, Stewart served as Music Director and Conductor of the Youth Orchestras of East Central Indiana. He also worked at Ball State University as Graduate Assistant Conductor of the Ball State Symphony Orchestra, Conductor of the Ball State Campus Orchestra, and Music Director of the Ball State Pocket Opera.

Stewart studied conducting at the Pierre Monteux School and Music Festival as well as other prominent conducting seminars. He earned a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from Ball State University where he studied with Douglas Droste. He has pursued further studies with renowned conductors and pedagogues such as Gerard Schwartz, Larry Livingston, Donald Schleicher, Victor Yampolsky, Gary Lewis, Markand Thakar, and Michael Jinbo. Stewart holds Bachelors’ degrees in both Music Performance and Music Education from Oklahoma State University.