Eric Choate

Eric Choate is a Professor of Choral and Organ Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), where he teaches and leads the Conservatory Chorus. He is an acclaimed composer, conductor, and organist with an international career. His compositions blend inventive polyphonic techniques and have been performed globally by ensembles like the San Francisco Symphony Chorus and VOCES8. He holds a MM from SFCM and a BA from St. Olaf College, with additional studies in Paris.

• Affiliations:
  • Professor at SFCM
  • Director of Music at The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin
  • Former Artistic Director of the San Francisco Boys Chorus
• Education:
  • BA in Theory and Composition, St. Olaf College
  • MM in Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music
  • Paris studies via European American Musical Alliance

His research focuses on choral conducting, organ improvisation, and composition. Recent works include Procession and Chorale and Stabat Mater world premieres. He has conducted major works by Bach, Verdi, and Britten with ensembles such as the Berkeley Symphony Chorus and Göteborgs Symfoniska Kör.

Grants & Awards: Recipient of a 2023 grant to study French organ improvisation in Paris. His compositions are published by E.C. Schirmer and VOCES8 Publishing.

• Labs/Teams:
  • Leads SFCM Conservatory Chorus and organ performance initiatives
  • Collaborates with St. Mary’s Parish Choir and international orchestras