Brandon Chase Di Noto Joins Choral Arts Initiative as New Assistant Conductor
- Choral Arts Initiative
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Two-time PREMIERE|Project Festival alumnus joins CAI’s Artistic Leadership Team
IRVINE, CA — Choral Arts Initiative is pleased to announce the appointment of conductor, vocalist, educator, and composer Brandon Chase Di Noto as its new Assistant Conductor.
Di Noto joins CAI’s Artistic Leadership Team with an established connection to the organization and its mission. A two-time alumnus of the PREMIERE|Project Festival, he participated as a Composer Fellow in 2024 and returned as a Conductor Fellow in 2026. His progression from festival participant to artistic leader reflects CAI’s commitment to creating meaningful pathways for emerging artists and cultivating the next generation of leaders in contemporary choral music. “Watching someone grow through multiple facets of our organization and ultimately emerge as the best person to help lead it is exactly the kind of long-term impact we hope to have,” says Brandon Elliott, Artistic Director.
“I am thrilled to be joining the CAI Artistic Leadership Team,” said Di Noto. “As a two-time alumnus of P|PF—as both a Composer Fellow and a Conductor Fellow—I can say firsthand that this organization is actively changing lives by creating pathways for emerging artists. I look forward to being part of bringing new music to life!”
An American conductor, vocalist, educator, and composer, Di Noto is a member of the School of Music faculty at Azusa Pacific University, where he directs the Bel Canto Treble Choir and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. He also serves as Assistant Director of Sterling Ensemble Los Angeles.
Di Noto frequently works as a clinician, guest conductor, and chorus master. He has prepared or led performances in collaboration with artists including Joyce DiDonato, Sangeeta Kaur, Hila Plitmann, and Voctave. A dedicated advocate for contemporary music, he has commissioned and presented regional, world, and recording premieres of works by established and emerging composers, including Lauren Biggs, Dale Trumbore, Amy Gordon, Samuel Siskind, and Danaë Xanthe Vlasse.
Di Noto is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Music at the USC Thornton School of Music, where he has also served as a teaching assistant. He previously earned a Master of Music degree in Choral Music from USC and completed undergraduate degrees in Music and Managerial and Organizational Communication at Point Loma Nazarene University.
As Assistant Conductor, Di Noto will collaborate with Founder and Artistic Director Brandon Elliott and CAI’s professional Choral Artists in preparing and performing new choral music. His experience as both a composer and conductor will further support the ensemble’s collaborative work with living composers and emerging artists.
About Choral Arts Initiative
We believe that we have the opportunity to be a living metaphor that celebrates unity. We believe that fostering and embracing the music of emerging composers is critical to our art form. We believe that our community deserves to hear the greatest performances of new choral music. We believe that passion and sincerity should be at the forefront of all musical endeavors. We are Choral Arts Initiative.
Founded by Artistic Director Brandon Elliott, Choral Arts Initiative is a non-profit 501(c)(3) choral organization comprised of some of the most talented and passionate new music vocal artists in the Southern California region. Widely recognized as a champion of new music, Choral Arts Initiative has been praised as "gracefully lyrical" (Tim Mangan, Voice of OC), hailed as one of Orange County’s "Best Choirs" (CBS News, Los Angeles), and noted for its "sublime" and "triumphant" performances (Ron Schepper, Textura). Winner of the American Prize in Choral Performance, recipient of the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming, and Winner of the San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards for Best New Music Performance, Choral Arts Initiative continues its commitment to musical innovation. Their inaugural album, "How to Go On: The Choral Works of Dale Trumbore," ranked #6 on the Billboard Charts (Traditional Classical Albums), and #4 Best Seller on iTunes Classical Charts. Their second album, "From Wilderness: A Meditation on the Pacific Crest Trail" charted for three weeks on Billboard and was the #1 Best Seller on Amazon and iTunes. Their third album released on March 8, 2024, and quickly soared to #1 on the Billboard Charts (Traditional Classical Albums). Their passion for new music has led to the commission of twenty-five compositions and the premiere of over one hundred works.
About Brandon Chase Di Noto
Brandon Chase Di Noto is an American conductor, vocalist, educator, and composer based in Los Angeles. He serves on the School of Music faculty at Azusa Pacific University and as Assistant Director of Sterling Ensemble Los Angeles. He is pursuing a D.M.A. in Choral Music at the USC Thornton School of Music, where he previously earned his M.M. in Choral Music.
As a conductor, Di Noto has led major choral-orchestral works and collaborated with distinguished artists. As a vocalist, he has performed professionally throughout the United States and Europe. His compositions have been written for high school, university, community, and professional ensembles and are published through MusicSpoke. He is an active member of ACDA, NCCO, Chorus America, and the Recording Academy.
Learn more at brandondinoto.com.
For more information, please contact:
Jonathan Kwok
Social Media & Administrative Coordinator
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