Nicholas Chase Last updated August 15, 2025 American composer and performer
Nicholas Chase
Chase in 2017 performing his composition "Bhajan" in
San Francisco Born Nicholas Frances Chase
(1966-07-23 ) July 23, 1966Occupations composer musician illustrator author Musical career Genres Instruments Labels Cold Blue Music Unit CAteliers Musical artist
Nicholas Frances Chase (Nebeil Mahayni; 1966), is an American composer , performer , and author .
Chase received a Bachelor of Arts in German Area Studies from University of Oregon in 1993 and studied music composition at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) with Stephen Mosko , Morton Subotnick , Bunita Marcus , and Mary Jane Leach , receiving his Master of Fine Arts in 2000. At CalArts he studied Hindustani Classical Music with Rajeev Taranath and Arabic Classical Music with Dr. Ziad Bunni . [ 1]
His compositional style has referenced popular music forms such as techno , electronica , ambient , and noise music , [ 2] and made use of interactive signal processing and electronic sound material with acoustic instrumentation [ 3] (electroacoustic music ). He has written original music for various ensembles including the California EAR Unit , [ 4] the Long Beach Opera , [ 5] and the Philadelphia Classical Symphony . [ 6]
In 2024 Chase published a 219 page book about free improvisation, Passage of Desire: Improvisation and the Human Journey , posthumously co-authored with Susan Allen . [ 7]
Chase has performed using a laptop and DJ turntables and is known to integrate video projection into performances. [ 8] In 2008 he began performing his own compositions for solo piano, giving concerts in Europe and the US.
Visual work Chase has directed short films , usually with a musical element. [ 9] In 2008 he created video projections for an event affiliated with the Whitney Biennial . With a background in illustration and design, he has created musical scores that have strong graphical elements and have been recognized as works of visual art. [ 10] In 2023 Chase published Petunia is a Very Busy Cat , a 54-page illustrated story. [ 11]
Awards In 2000, the same year he received his M.F.A., Chase was awarded CalArts' President's Alumni Achievement Award. [ 12] He was nominated for the Alpert Award in Music in 2003. In 2011 Chase received a Composer Fellowship from Other Minds Festival in San Francisco, the inaugural year of the Composer Fellow program. [ 13] [ 14]
Works e1>3ktr=Δ (also known as Elektra , 2000) opera for alto singer, flute, DJ , video projectionist [ 15] Sp!t (2000) for flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, DJ Tw!tch (2000) for flute, violin, contrabassRugosa Rose (2001) for solo violinOPUS (2002) for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, DJ 22: Taker of the Total Chance (2003) for 2 soprano singers, violin, viola, cello, contrabass, 2 pianos [ 16] Woad for Indigo (2004) for solo piano11 Ideas (also known as Dalì's Egg , 2005-2013) opera for 2 narrators, film, piano, DJ , video projectionSeventh Sense (2005) for solo contrabass with live electronics Ouistitis (2007) for viola and celloConsidering Light (2008) for flute soloist, melodica , violin, cello, piano, kettle drums , toy piano Ngoma Lungdundu (Voice That Thunders) (2008) 4-channel pre-recorded media and video projection Songs of the Thirsty Sword (2008) for solo piano with 4-channel live electronics and video projection Blue Sky Over Buchenwald (2008) electronic music sound trackGin Blossoms & Broccoli Boutonnières (2011) for solo flute with live electronics Bhajan (also known as Bhajan I-IV 2017) for solo violin and live electronics Voluptuous (2012) for solo piano and optional live electronics Saida (2013) for solo pianoHai•ku (2018) under pseudonym 1=xx_√=<ktºr (Lexx Vektor) , electronic music Zuòwàng (2023) for solo pianoTiny Thunder (2023) for piano four hands Discography Collaborations (2006) STV/Unit Records, UTR4174Hai•ku (2008) as 1=xx_√=<ktºr (Lexx Vektor), CAtliers (independent), CAt-018-01The Velvet Watt Volume 1: Ngoma Lungundu (2009) CAteliers (independent), CAt-001Martinis at the Maybeck (2012) with Susan Allen (musician) and Rus Pearson as NIRUSU III, CAteliers (independent), CAt-003Voluptuous: Works for Solo Piano (2014) CAteliers (independent), CAt-006Bhajan (2017), Cold Blue Music, CB0046Garden Works: Music for Soloists (2022) CAteliers (independent), CAt-011Tiny Thunder (2023), Cold Blue Music, CB0064References ↑ "Nicholas Chase website" . Retrieved 30 June 2012 . ↑ Chase, Nicholas Frances (17 July 2004). "Wild at Heart" . Kalvos and Damian (Interview). Interviewed by Kalvos and Damian. p. Program 476. Retrieved 29 June 2012 . ↑ Woodard, Joseph. "EAR Unit's Toughness and Tranquility" . LA Times . Retrieved 29 June 2012 . ↑ Rich, Alan. "When Fa Joins Mi..." LA Weekly. Retrieved 1 July 2012 . ↑ "Long Beach Opera" . Long Beach Opera. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2012 . ↑ Burwasser, Peter. "All About Andy" . Philadelphia City Paper. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2012 . ↑ Published by Nicholas Chase Publishing (Independent) 16 August 2024, ISBN 979-8332909306. Retrieved 2 October 2024. ↑ Green, Jo-Anne. "Multi-Media at REDCAT (LA)" . Networked Music Review. Retrieved 30 June 2012 . ↑ Chase, Nicholas Frances (6 June 2010). "TVFilm Season 2: In Depth Interview with Nicholas Chase" . TVFilm (Interview). WMHT TV. Retrieved 29 June 2012 . ↑ Chase, Nicholas (April 2010). 7th Sense (PDF) . Shifter Magazine. pp. 136– 144. ↑ Published by Nicholas Chase Publishing (Independent) 2 October 2023, ISBN 979-8862901801. Retrieved 2 October 2024. ↑ "CalArts Greets Alumni With Homecoming Gala" . Daily News . Retrieved 30 June 2012 . ↑ "Other Minds Festival 16: Composer Fellowship Concert" . 2 March 2011. ↑ Dalton, Joseph. "Nicholas Chase at Other Minds" . My Big Gay Ears. Retrieved 1 July 2012 . ↑ "OPERA America Members Portal" . ↑ "OPERA America Members Portal" . This page is based on this
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