Will Chandler is starting his first year as the director of choral activities at Texas Wesleyan University. Prior to teaching at the collegiate level, Professor Chandler was a high school choir director for seven years. He also was a church music director for nine years, mainly serving in the United Methodist Church. As an educator and church musician, choirs under his direction scored superior ratings in contests and festivals and toured nationally, including performances in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City and the Tabernacle of Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. On top of working with his own choirs, he is constantly traveling throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area to clinic secondary choir programs from small schools to larger 6A programs.

Outside of working with choral ensembles, Professor Chandler enjoys finding choral repertoire from historically-underrepresented composers. His current scholarship has focused on the choral music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. He will be co-presenting a session on his music at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference in late February. It is his hope that the composers we perform in our concerts reflect the singers in our ensembles and their diverse backgrounds.

Professor Chandler is engaged to his wonderful fiancée Karen. Together, they live in Fort Worth, Texas. Professor Chandler is also a football fan and fitness enthusiast. He likes to train and compete in CrossFit competitions in his spare time. Professor Chandler holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Millsaps College, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi and is nearing completion of a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Kentucky.

Professor Will Chandler is a force to reckon with. His energy and vigor are inspirational in the least. In the short amount of time he has been here at Texas Wesleyan, he has orchestrated a Wesleyan Chorale promotional event, an All-State Round One Review Camp and has directed clinics with three local high schools, Sunnyvale Highschool of Sunnyvale ISD, Heritage High School of Frisco ISD and Arlington Heights High School of Fort Worth ISD. Professor Chandler’s connections run deep, but his love and passion for what he does run deeper. Welcome to the music “RAMily” Professor Will Chandler!

We got to sit down with Professor Chandler and learn a little more.

What led you to apply to Texas Wesleyan?

I loved living and teaching in Texas and wanted to come back to be closer to friends, colleagues, and family.  Plus, I love breakfast tacos!

What is it that you enjoy about working at Texas Wesleyan?

I love the family dynamic between the faculty and students.  Everyone looks out for each other.

What do you love about your job as a music professor? 

I love showing how a group of people can come together and make something bigger than anything we could do on our own.