Jun Terasawa is a choral conductor, music educator, vocalist, pianist, guitarist, composer, and arranger whose work bridges classical choral traditions, contemporary performance culture, and community music making. His professional mission centers on fostering musical growth across age groups, genres, and cultural contexts while maintaining high artistic and pedagogical standards. He earned a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Colorado State University in 2018, studying under Dr. James Kim. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Voice from the University of Wyoming and an Associate of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Piano from Northwest College. He is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Glenn Korff School of Music under the mentorship of Dr. Peter Eklund.
           During his graduate studies at Colorado State University, Jun demonstrated both leadership and artistic versatility through conducting and composition recitals. Highlights included conducting Franz Schubert’s Mass in G Major with the CSU Concert Choir and string quartet, as well as directing major a cappella repertoire such as J.S. Bach’s Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden (BWV 230) and Anton Bruckner’s Christus factus est. His composition recital featured several original works, including The Cat That Lived a Million Times (text by Yoko Sano), reflecting his commitment to contemporary creation alongside canonical literature. These projects established his dual professional identity as both conductor and composer and demonstrated his ability to design programs that balance historical depth with modern accessibility.
           Following graduation, Jun held teaching and conducting positions across the United States, Cambodia, and Japan. His appointments have included K–12 Music Teacher at Valier Public Schools in Montana and Director of Musical Activities at American Global Prep Schools in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2019–2020), where he established and implemented curricula in music theory, music history, and sight singing, and directed the annual Christmas concert in collaboration with a local orchestra. In recognition of his contributions to music education in Cambodia, he received a Certificate of Recognition endorsed with an official Cambodian governmental seal, documentation of which is included with this application. 
           He later served as a voice, guitar, ukulele, and composition instructor at Sheer Music Schools in Japan. Between 2020 and 2024, he conducted Chor Menora, the Kashiwa Children’s Choir, and Women’s Choir NAYUTA, leading festival appearances and large-scale concerts while developing expertise in youth and community choir leadership. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he designed an innovative studio configuration that enabled safe, real-time music instruction without sacrificing musical interaction; the system was later adopted across all 98 Sheer Music Schools locations in Japan. Over a 4.5-year period, he delivered more than 11,000 individual lessons and helped double enrollment at one campus through meticulous scheduling, adaptive pedagogy, and student-centered curriculum design.
           Alongside his ensemble work, Jun has maintained an active presence as a private voice and performance coach. His students have earned first-place awards in national and international competitions, gained admission to leading arts universities, and received recognition in major audition programs. He served as exclusive vocal coach for the idol group Taiyo to Odore, Tsukiyo ni Utae, produced by Pony Canyon (one of Japan’s major music and media production companies), whose work includes anime theme music and performances at major Japanese music festivals. His coaching spans both classical and commercial genres, underscoring his versatility in preparing singers for diverse performance environments.
           While pursuing his doctoral studies, Jun has remained deeply engaged in the Lincoln, Nebraska community. Since 2025, he has served as Music Director at St. Luke United Methodist Church, where he leads weekly rehearsals and services, prepares seasonal cantatas, and cultivates a supportive and artistically vibrant choral environment. Following the choir’s performance of Walk in the Kingdom in October 2025, composer Don Besig commended the ensemble, noting its clarity of diction, dynamic contrast, and expressive spirit. This recognition reflects Jun’s emphasis on musical clarity, expressive phrasing, and thoughtful repertoire selection in community settings.
           Jun’s recent conducting experience reflects both academic and community engagement. At St. Luke United Methodist Church he directs major seasonal works and weekly worship music, while at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln he has conducted ensembles including Chamber Singers, Varsity Chorus, and University Singers in concerts, festivals, and civic events such as performances at the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda. His doctoral recital programs span repertoire from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary American works, demonstrating stylistic breadth and interpretive flexibility. Internationally, he has conducted on concert tours in Scotland, England, Germany, and Czech Republic leading performances in historic cathedrals and parish churches.
           In parallel with his conducting work, Jun maintains a private studio in Lincoln, teaching conducting, voice, and ukulele. His conducting instruction emphasizes gesture, rehearsal methodology, and score study, while his voice teaching prepares students for auditions ranging from musical theatre to Nebraska All-State Choir. His teaching philosophy prioritizes clarity, efficiency, and long-term musical independence.
           Jun’s leadership also extends into administrative and service roles. He serves as Graduate Representative on the International Student Advisory Board at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, advocating for more than 1,300 international students and contributing to campus initiatives related to inclusion and well-being. Within the Glenn Korff School of Music, he works as a Building Monitor and Media and Production Assistant, coordinating audio, livestreaming, and concert recording. He also serves as Office Production Manager and Volunteer Coordinator at Arts Incorporated in Lincoln, supporting logistics, marketing, and operations for regional arts events.
           In addition to conducting and teaching, Jun remains active as a composer and arranger. He studied composition with Dr. Anne Guzzo at the University of Wyoming and Dr. James David at Colorado State University, earning second place in the CSU Art Song Composition Contest for his setting of Emily Dickinson’s I heard a Fly buzz—when I died. His work spans choral, vocal, and instrumental genres and often blends classical form with contemporary harmonic language. He has also worked as a collaborative pianist and studio musician, including piano performance on the ending theme Happiness of the Dead by jon-YAKITORY for the anime Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead. In 2026, he composed Held by the Sun for the animation One Day, One Second: An Animation That Begins with ◯, commissioned by illustrator Iroha Maeno, further demonstrating his engagement with interdisciplinary collaboration.
           Through his academic training, international teaching career, and multifaceted performance activities, Jun Terasawa has developed a professional profile that integrates scholarship, artistry, mentorship, and service. His work reflects a belief that choral music is both a historical tradition and a living practice capable of connecting communities across languages, genres, and generations.

 

Career Highlights (Selected)

2025–present Music Director, St. Luke United Methodist Church (Lincoln, Nebraska, USA)
2025–present Graduate Representative, International Student Advisory Board, University of 
Nebraska–Lincoln
2020–2024    Conductor, Chor Menora; Kashiwa Children’s Choir; Women’s Choir NAYUTA (Japan)
2020–2024    Instructor of Voice, Guitar, Ukulele, and Composition, Sheer Music Schools (Japan); 
taught over 11,000 lessons across 4.5 years
2019–2020     Director of Musical Activities, American Global Prep School (Phnom Penh, Cambodia)
          Recipient of Certificate of Recognition endorsed with a Cambodian governmental seal
2018–2019     K–12 Music Teacher, Valier Public Schools (District #18), Valier, Montana, USA
          Reestablished the district’s music program after a seven-year absence of a music teacher
2018         Second Prize, CSU Art Song Composition Contest