Education
Oberlin Conservatory, Oberlin, OH
2004 - 2008. B.M. in Piano Performance with a focus in Jazz Studies
Francis W. Parker School, Chicago, IL
1993 - 2004.
Music Director
Temple Jeremiah, Northfield, IL
2019 - ongoing. Responsibilities included accompanying all services, rehearsing and conducting the choir, producing video and audio pieces for streamed services, and assisting the Cantor with other Temple programming.
The Chicago High School for the Arts, Chicago, IL
2012 - 2019. Music director for all mainstage musical theatre productions. Shows included Once On This Island, Company, The Drowsy Chaperone, Working, Sweet Charity, Les Miserables School Edition, and Bring It On!
After School Matters Downtown Program, Chicago IL
2008 - 2015. Music director for ASM’s selective downtown ensemble. Shows included West Side Story, Godspell, The Wiz, Thirteen, Cats, Ragtime, and Oklahoma!
Accompanist
City Voices, Oak Park, IL
2008 - ongoing. City Voices is an adult community chorus whose repertoire ranges from contemporary composers to Renaissance motets, under the direction of Bill Chin. Responsibilities with the choir also included running sectional rehearsals, contracting instrumentalists, and creating original compositions and arrangements for the choir.
Merit School of Music, Chicago, IL
2014 - 2019. Accompanist for the jazz vocal ensemble in the tuition-free conservatory program, under the direction of Jade Maze.
Pro Musica Youth Chorus, Oak Park, IL
2008 - 2012. Accompanist for the elementary school-aged Canterini ensemble, under the direction of Carling Fitzsimmons.
Educator
The Chicago High School for the Arts, Chicago, IL
2012 - 2019. Faculty member in the music and theatre departments. Courses taught include Music Theory Fundamentals, Keyboard Skills, Vocal Technique and Repertoire, and Music History.
The Merit School of Music, Chicago, IL
2014 - 2019. Co-instructor for the vocal jazz ensemble in the tuition-free conservatory program, and the summer musical theatre intensive.
After School Matters Downtown Program, Chicago, IL
2008 - 2015. Co-lead instructor for the musical theatre program at ASM’s flagship campus.
Pit Bands
The Fly Honey Show, The Inconvenience, Chicago, IL
2017 - 2019. Principal Keyboardist. The Fly Honey Show is a long-running variety show focused on racial, feminist, and LGBT themes.
The Grelley Duvall Show, Chicago, IL
2018 - 2020. Principal Keyboardist. The Grelley Duvall show is an annual musical comedy variety show playing on ‘80s and ‘90s nostalgia.
Music Theatre Works (formerly Light Opera Works), Evanston, IL
2013 - 2017. Keyboards for Candide (2017), Accordion for Fiddler on the Roof (2014), Keyboards for Cabaret (2013). Also served as a rehearsal pianist.
Other Bands and Projects
Blue Water Kings (International Musician’s League)
2018 - ongoing. Keyboardist. BWK is a professional band contracted for weddings, parties, and other live events, performing pop hits of the ‘60s through the present day.
The Julian Chin Trio
2017 - ongoing. An acoustic trio playing original arrangements, focused on jazz and improvised music.
Elle Casazza
2013 - 2020. Keyboardist and Arranger. Elle Casazza is the stage name of singer/songwriter Beth Reinstein. Julian appears on her albums Proof and Elle Casazza and the Prophecy Boys, and provided horn and string arrangements for both albums, as well as co-writing on the latter.
Honey and the 45s
2014 - 2017. Touring Keyboardist. Honey and the 45’s is a female-fronted blues rock band. In addition to playing on live shows, Julian also appears on their self-titled album.
Deep Fayed
2014 - 2016. Touring Keyboardist. Deep Fayed is a progressive hip hop group, lead by guitarist George Wundsam.
Brittany Moffitt
2014 -2015. Touring Keyboardist. Brittany Moffiti is a midwest-based pop/rock vocalist.
Lionel O
2010 - 2013. Accordion and Percussion. Lionel O is the stage name of L.A.-based composer Matt Orenstein. Julian played as part of the Chicago iteration of his band and appears on the album -MLO.
Capillary Action
2010 - 2012. Multi-instrumentalist. Capillary Action was an avant-garde rock group lead by guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Pfeffer. Julian played accordion, percussion, and provided backup vocals for their American and EU tours, and appears on the album Capsized.
Reciprocity
2009 -2013. Pianist and Arranger. Reciprocity was a jazz vocal trio in the style of Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, performing in the Chicago area.