Christopher Jed “CJ” Madsen is a third-year candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree, emphasis in choral conducting, at the University of Arizona. While completing his degree, CJ is an adjunct professor at the Brigham Young University School of Music for the 2024-25 academic year. CJ received a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Brigham Young University (BYU), in Provo, Utah. He also received a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from BYU.
As a composer and arranger, CJ has had his works performed by all the auditioned BYU choirs and the University of Arizona Symphonic Choir. CJ’s most recent large work, an opera entitled He Shall Prepare a Way, was staged in April 2022 and released as an album and concert video. In addition, CJ is the composer of One Fold, One Shepherd, a sacred work for choir and orchestra released in 2019 as an album and performed in April 2024 at the Tabernacle at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.
CJ grew up in West Jordan, Utah, and was a volunteer missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2012 to 2014 in North Carolina. Much of CJ’s inspiration as a conductor, composer, and pianist come from his belief in Christ, his passion for people, his thirst for powerful music, and his love for his wife (Samm) and four children (Hollis, Charlotte, Jonathan, and Taran).
Charlotte, CJ, Jonathan, Samm, Taran, Hollis, 2024