Christopher Jed “CJ” Madsen is a second-year doctoral student at the University of Arizona, with an emphasis in choral conducting. CJ recently received a Master of Music degree from Brigham Young University (BYU), in Provo, Utah, with an emphasis in choral conducting. 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. 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.
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).