Dane Alexander Carten (ABD) is a third-year DMA student at the University of Arizona in Choral Conducting. He received his Master’s in the same field, at the same university in 2023. Dane spent his formative years in Detroit, MI, first as part of several touring Metal and Rock bands and second as a student in Music Education at Wayne State University, earning his BM Summa Cum Laude in 2019. Dane also received an AA Summa Cum Laude in Music Theory/Composition from Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills, MI, in 2016. Dane acts as Artistic Director of Neoteric and Faculty Staff, as well as Choir Director of Catalina United Methodist Church, and Assistant Director of the Helios Ensemble. Dane also gigs as a freelance composer and has recently been commissioned to write the score for “A Feral Season” by Taryn Mayer. This musical is set to premiere in May of 2026.

Ivan Yang received his BM in Piano Performance at the Fred Fox School of Music under his professors, Dr. Rex Woods, Dr. Nino Bakradze, and Dr. John Milbauer. He is the first prize winner of the 2021 Michael Moore Piano Competition and a finalist in the Lois Trester Piano Competition. In addition to solo performance, Ivan enjoys collaborating with other musicians. He has also received a Masters in Piano Performance from the University of Arizona with Dr. Fanya Lin and explored choral conducting with Dr. Elizabeth Schauer.