Parsi-American violinist Chase Ward is focused on communicating music’s humanity through his work as an educator and performer.

Chase performs regularly with the Saint Louis, Detroit, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra in Santa Cruz, California, and the Lakes Area Music Festival in Brainerd, Minnesota during the summer. He has previously served as a section violinist in the Ann Arbor, Flint, and Lansing Symphony Orchestras in Michigan. Having just completed the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from University of Michigan (2023), Chase is a mentor and teacher for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Youth Ensembles and has also served on the faculties of the Flint Institute of Music and the Sphinx Organization’s Overture Program.

Chase maintains an active private studio in the Detroit metro area, and his students have been admitted into undergraduate performance and technology programs at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and the Eastman School of Music. Other student accomplishments include attendance at Interlochen Arts Camp, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and wins at local and college concerto competitions.

Highlights from Chase’s recent performance engagements include recording the Grammy-nominated album “Sila: The Breath of the World” at the University of Michigan; as well as performances with Carnatic violinist Apoorva Krishna, the National Arab Orchestra, Mariachi Orgullo de América, and the Catalyst and Calidore Quartets.

Chase owes much thanks to his primary teachers: David Halen, Fabiola Kim, Caroline Coade, Hal Grossman, and Gregory Lee; all of whom were integral to his musical formation.

Education:

D.M.A., University of Michigan (2023)

M.M., University of Michigan (2018)

B.M., University of Oklahoma (2016)

Diploma, Interlochen Arts Academy (2012)

Please contact Chase for a long bio.

Website photos are by Portia Shao and Annette Isabelle Photography.