Faculty Profile

Christopher Fashun

Assistant Professor of Music

Education

B MUS, St Olaf University, 1996
M MUS, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2003
DMA, University of Iowa, 2012

Biography

An incredibly diverse and versatile conductor and performer, Christopher Fashun is an Assistant Professor of Music on the faculty at Goshen College where he conducts the Symphony Orchestra, directs the Lavender Jazz Ensemble, oversees the music education program, conducts the orchestras for musicals and opera, and teaches applied percussion.  In 2011, he became the music director of the Elkhart County Honors Youth Orchestra where he has the opportunity to work with talented high school musicians throughout Elkhart County.

 

An accomplished percussionist and violist, he has several years of orchestral and chamber music experience and has enjoyed success in both areas as a soloist by winning three concerto competitions.  During the past seven years, Dr. Fashun has concentrated his study of world percussion in Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian music and dance.  Most notably, his teachers include Jorge Alabe, Michael Spiro, Mark Lamson, Curtis Pierre, Jorge Martins, and Scott Kettner.  He has also toured nationally and abroad as a jazz vibraphonist and has recorded albums with the Wisconsin Brass Quintet and the Jason Harms Quartet.

 

Since 2008, he has conducted the University of Iowa Philharmonia and All-University Orchestras and was the Music Director of the St. Ambrose University Community Symphony Orchestra in Davenport, IA.  In November of 2009, Dr. Fashun conducted the Symphony String Orchestra at the IMEA Conference in Ames as part of the Iowa Junior Honors String Orchestra Festival Concert.  Additionally, Dr. Fashun’s conducting experience includes leading orchestras and wind bands at the high school and middle school levels and directing jazz ensembles, percussion ensembles, and drumlines at the high school level.  He is an active clinician with middle and high school orchestras, percussionists, and jazz ensembles and frequently serves as an adjudicator for large group music festivals.

 

Dr. Fashun holds a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, MN where he studied conducting with Steven Amundson and Timothy Mahr and viola with Andrea Een.  He received his Masters of Music degree in percussion performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studied with Anthony DiSanza and continued his conducting studies with David E. Becker.  He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Iowa where he studied conducting with William LaRue Jones and viola with Christine Rutledge.

Upcoming Performances: 2012-13 Season

Dr. Fashun begins the 2012-13 season with a guest conducting performance with the Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra.  The program, entitled “Cole Porter and Friends,” will feature soloist Doug LaBrecque (www.DougLaBrecque.com).  The performance is September 22, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. at the Lerner Theater in Elkhart, IN.  For ticket information, visit the Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra online at http://www.elkhartsymphony.net/live/

In addition to being the Music Director for the Goshen College Symphony Orchestra and Lavender Jazz Ensemble, Dr. Fashun will be giving a percussion recital as part of the Faculty Artist Series.  The recital is April 6, 2013 in Reith Recital Hall at 4:00 p.m.  The performance will feature marimba works by Keiko Abe, Steve Reich, Dave Hollinden, Toshimitsu Tanaka, and Nebojsa Zivkovic.  Also performing with Dr. Fashun are special guest artists Chris French (clarinet) and Ben Runkel (percussion).

 

In March of 2013, Dr. Fashun will be guest conductor of the

Goshen College Lavender Jazz

Goshen First Friday: October 5th, 6-9 p.m. Washington Street, downtown Goshen

Fall Concert: November 30, 2012, Sauder Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Spring Concert: March 22, 2013, Sauder Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.

 

Goshen College Symphony Orchestra

Homecoming Gala Concert: October 6, 2012, Sauder Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Fall Concert: November 2, 2012, Sauder Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.

A Festival of Carols: December 7 & 8, 2012 Sauder Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.; December 9, Sauder Concert Hall, 4:00 p.m.

53rd Annual Concerto-Aria Concert: February 9, 2013, Sauder Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Spring Concert: April 19, 2013, Sauder Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.

 

Goshen College Fall Musical

November 9, 10, 16 & 17, 2012, Umble Theater, 8:00 p.m.

November 11 & 18, 2012, Umble Theater, 3:00 p.m.