— About —

Chase McCay (b. 2003) is an award-winning American composer, arranger, and engraver whose music bridges raw folk energy with a cinematic sense of scale. Defined by driving rhythms and melodic clarity, his work focuses on "achievable excellence"—a commitment to crafting meticulously engraved scores that remain accessible to ensembles without sacrificing emotional or technical depth.

Chase’s compositions and arrangements have been featured across prominent academic and professional stages. Notable highlights include the landmark premiere of his orchestral work Euphoric Dawn by The University of Texas Symphony Orchestra, and the performance of his piece K2 with the Austin Symphony Orchestra. His growing catalog of wind ensemble works has earned critical recognition; most notably, his work Songs of Bulgaria was named a 2026 National Finalist for The American Prize in Composition (Wind Ensemble Division), celebrated alongside pieces like Svatba! for their synthesis of Western orchestration techniques with the vibrant regional folk music of Eastern Europe. Through his music, Chase has earned the trust and praise of leading conductors and educators; Maestro Farkhad Khudyev describes his output as “beautiful, honest, and alive,” while collegiate wind conductors consistently recognize his deep understanding of contemporary ensemble textures.

Beyond his work as a composer, Chase is an active professional music engraver and editor. Viewing the physical notation on a page as a sacred contract between composer and performer, he dedicates his practice to the “Art of the Score.” This philosophy—grounded in an uncompromised standard for visual clarity, layout symmetry, and effortless readability—has made him a trusted, sought-after collaborator for university faculty, professional ensembles, and guest artists seeking elite performance materials that withstand the rigors of limited rehearsal schedules.

Chase holds a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Composition from the Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin. During his time there, his artistic development was shaped under the mentorship of a distinguished composition faculty, studying closely with Dr. Donald Grantham, Omar Thomas, Dr. Alyssa Weinberg, Dr. Russell Podgorsek, and Dr. Yevgeniy Sharlat. Chase is currently dedicating a targeted post-graduation chapter to an active schedule of regional commission projects and collaborative engraving ventures before pursuing graduate studies.

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Awards & Recognition

  • National Finalist for the 2026 American Prize in Composition — Band/Wind Ensemble Collegiate Division (Songs of Bulgaria)

  • Winner of the 2021-2022 University of Texas Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition (Euphoric Dawn)

  • Recipient of the University of Texas College of Fine Arts Honors Scholarship

  • Fifth-Place Winner of the 10th Annual Sarah & Ernest Butler Austin Symphony Texas Young Composers Competition (K2)

Composition Mentors

  • Yevgeniy Sharlat (2025 - 2026) | The University of Texas

  • Omar Thomas (2024 - 2025) | The University of Texas

  • Russell Podgorsek (2023) | The University of Texas

  • Alyssa Weinberg (2023) | The University of Texas

  • Donald Grantham (2021 - 2022) | The University of Texas

  • Austin Ali (2020 - 2024)

Masterclasses

  • John Mackey (February 2024) | The University of Texas

  • Viet Cuong (November 2023) | The University of Texas

Ensembles that have played Chase’s music include…

  • Mirrors (2020) | May 7, 2021

  • “Svatba!” from Songs of Bulgaria (2023) | April 18, 2024

  • Westward, Pointed Up (2023) - Reading | April 26, 2023

  • K2 (2020) | June 16, 2022

  • “Svatba!” from Songs of Bulgaria (2023) - Reading | November 3, 2023

  • Together We’ll Rise (2023) | June 2023

  • Iris of the Earth (2022) | April 12, 2025

    Songs of Bulgaria (2024) | April 12, 2025

  • “Svatba!” from Songs of Bulgaria (2023) | February 23, 2025

  • Obscure Lucidity (2021) | November 2021

  • Echoes of the Frontier (2025) | February 22, 2026

  • “Svatba!” from Songs of Bulgaria (2026) - Reading | April 10, 2026

    Westward, Pointed Up (2023) - Reading | November 10, 2023

    Euphoric Dawn (2021) | May 2, 2022

  • Echoes of the Frontier (2025)- Reading | November 10, 2025

    “Svatba!” from Songs of Bulgaria (2023)- Reading | April 17, 2024

    Verdant Anthology (2022) Mvt. II-IV - Reading | February 27, 2023

    Liquid Gold Sky (2021) - Reading | October 27, 2021

  • “Pesen na Naroda” from Songs of Bulgaria (2024) - Reading | November 13, 2024

  • Heart Lake (2022) - Reading | December 2022