The Director
Thomas Chapman is a native of Grand Junction, CO where he was born and raised.  He attended the local schools and has participated in music since first grade.  In August, 1996 Mr. Chapman began playing the trumpet at West Middle School and has not put it down since.  At Grand Junction High School he began to focus in on his musical career playing in Jazz Band I (Colorado Music Educators Association Conference, 2002 participant), Wind Ensemble, Pit Orchestra for three musicals, Jazz Combo, Tiger Pride Marching Band (section leader, 2001; drum major, 2002), as well as featured trumpet with the Grand Junction High School Choirs.  While in high school he received high ratings at Solo and Ensemble contests on both solo, ensemble, and personal arrangements, received the Outstanding Drum Major Award at the 2002 Colorado West Marching Invitational, participated in the 2003 Colorado All-State Symphonic Band, and was awarded the John Philip Sousa and the Marion L. Jacobs awards.
                                                                                                                
Mr. Chapman went on to college at the University of Northern Colorado to major in Music Education.  There he performed with the Trumpet Choir, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Lab Band II, the Juventus Vocal Ensemble and the "Pride of the Rockies" Marching Band.  Under the teachings of Dr. Rob Murray, Professor of Trumpet, he received the trumpet "Musicianship Skills Award" and the "Most Improved Award", and in the marching band was recognized as one of the 2006 "Outstanding Upperclassmen".  While studying Choral Techniques and Conducting in 2007, the director of the Juventus Vocal Ensemble asked Mr. Chapman to come sing with the group for that Spring semester.  With this group he traveled to the country of Columbia, South America, and performed a series of concerts for a religious music festival as both a vocalist and a trumpeter. During his final semester at UNC, he student taught with the prestigious Loveland High School Band Program where he conducted the award-winning Wind Symphony in concert, the first student teacher there to be given the honor, and taught and conducted the Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble II, and LHS Mass Band (120 musicians onstage with offstage Brass and Percussion).  He graduated from UNC in May, 2008.
 
Mr. Chapman's jobs have taken him all over the state and the country.  He has worked for the Two Rivers Convention Center in Grand Junction and from there went to work with the Grand Junction High School "Tiger Pride" Marching Band as their Brass Technician for 2004 and 2005.  In 2006 he traveled to Twin Lake, MI, to work as a cabin counselor and director's assistant for the prestigious Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.  Having enjoyed his experience with the students he returned for a second summer in 2007.  At the University of Northern Colorado, Mr. Chapman worked for the University Libraries as a Student Supervisor in charge of operations during late hours and providing leadership and patron assistance.
 
Currently Mr. Chapman is settling down in Kit Carson.  He will be joined in December by his fiancé and future spouse, Jennifer Watkins.  Ms. Watkins is currently studying Sociology at the University of Northern Colorado with an emphasis in Social Issues and a minor in Music.