Chase Chang   

Chase Chang holds an M. M. in Conducting from Brigham Young University, a B.A. and B.M. in Music Education from the University of Washington, and is a National Board certified teacher in music. 

He studied with former Associate Concert Master of the Seattle Symphony and String Professor, Walter Schwede, studied oboe with Alex Klein (Chicago Symphony/Calgary Symphony), and studied conducting with Kory Katseanes. 

Mr. Chang was elected and served as the Orchestra Curriculum Officer for the Washington Music Educator's Association from 2018-2020.

Chase Chang is currently board President of the North Idaho Youth Symphony. He was Principal Symphony Conductor of the Seattle Ensign Symphony and Chorus, and led performances at Seattle's Benaroya Hall. He recorded with Jennifer Thomas and her award-winning music album, “The Fire Within”. Mr. Chang appeared in her music video; now viewable on YouTube. *Click Here to see the music video!*

Mr. Chang worked with nationally known composer, Richard Meyer, and premiered "A Keltic Feast" with his middle school orchestra in 2008.  "A Keltic Feast" is now a published piece performed by many orchestras around the nation.  Mr. Chang and his orchestra worked with composer, Austin Schlichting, to premiere a commission piece, “From Brother, To Brother” at the 2023 WMEA Conference.

Chase Chang held positions as the artistic director and principal conductor of the Issaquah Philharmonic Orchestra. He was the Violin/Viola specialist for the 2024 Cougar Music Camp at Washington State University. Mr. Chang conducted the Academy Orchestra in the Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia (SOGO). He coached winds and strings for the Tacoma Youth Symphony, Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia, and Everett Youth Symphony. 

Mr. Chang taught orchestra, band, and choir in the public schools since 1998. He has been sought as a clinician, judge, and guest conductor around the Puget Sound, Eastern Washington, and North Idaho areas.

He taught in the Bellevue School District for 15 years, bolstering the orchestra programs at Tyee Middle School, Bellevue High School, and Odle Middle School. Chase Chang now teaches orchestra at two middle schools in the Spokane School District.

Christi Chang’s Carnegie Hall performance was aired on Seattle’s Classical King FM 98.1 on March 6, 2020. Click here to listen!

Click here for a short video clip of Christi Chang’s rehearsal.

Christi Chang   

Christi Chang is the cofounder of Summer String Academy. She holds an M.A. and a B.A. in Music Education from Central Washington University and is a Nationally Board Certified orchestra teacher. Mrs. Chang teaches high school and middle school orchestra in the East Valley School District (Spokane, WA).

During her 20 years of teaching, Christi Chang taught orchestra grades 5-12. She has started over a thousand beginning string players and nurtured thousands of middle school players. She taught in the Bellevue School District for 12 years. Mrs. Chang taught at Bellevue High School and subsequently at Chinook Middle School. Her orchestra program yielded over 150 orchestra students each year.

Starting the violin at the age of two, Christi Chang learned through the Suzuki method before becoming a private Suzuki teacher herself. She went on to perform in the US, Germany, Africa and Central Asia before her first high school and elementary orchestra position in the Renton School District.

As Hazen High School’s orchestra director (Renton, WA), Christi Chang was recognized by the news media for her achievement in founding a program that provided private instrument lessons to underprivileged elementary students. Mrs. Chang trained high school students to tutor elementary orchestra students. The program saw over 100 students each year and Mrs. Chang was recognized for her outstanding success. Christi Chang was invited to the American String Teachers Association’s conference in Atlanta, where she presented her thriving tutoring program.

At Bellevue High School Mrs. Chang’s groups regularly received high marks at contest. A highlight of her career was going through a selective audition process to conduct her orchestra at New York’s Carnegie Hall. A recording of her performance was later aired on Seattle’s Classical King 98.1 FM.

King 98.1 FM Broadcast - Christi Chang at Carnegie Hall

In addition to her teaching, Mrs. Chang regularly adjudicates WMEA Solo & Ensemble Contest and Large Orchestra Group festivals. She is active in the music education community; having served as Washington Music Education Association’s (WMEA) region’s secretary, treasurer, and well as managing the several WMEA All-State Orchestras.

Christi Chang worked with former Seattle Symphony conductor Gerard Schwarz, former New Jersey Symphony conductor, Jeff Grogan, and international conductor of the St. Petersburg State Academic Symphony Orchestra, and Fabio Pirola. As a friend and colleague, Mrs. changed worked with Terry Shade, author of the well-known “String Basics” orchestra method book.

Mrs. Chang lives in Idaho with her husband and three children. You can see the Chang family at Summer String Academy each year!

David Drassal

David Drassal earned his Master’s and Bachelor’s in Music Music education at Central Washington University. He served as appointed conductor in the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestras since 2010, but began his service from 2007 to 2010 as a professional violin coach.

Maestro Drassal began his teaching career in the Bellevue School District at Highland Middle School and Sammamish High School. He taught at Tyee Middle School since 2013. He was the recipient of the PTSA Outstanding Educator Award at both Highland and Tyee Middle School. String player enrollment at Tyee exponentially increased from 140 string students to over 230 string players within a couple of years and continues to be a very stable and strong music program to this day. At contests and festivals, Mr. Drassal’s ensembles consistently place in the top three ranks and regularly receives invitations to play at prestigious venues. Tyee’s latest appearance was at the Washington Music Educators Conference in 2016. David Drassal’s orchestra students feed into the Award-Winning Newport High School orchestra program.

As a freelance violinist, David Drassal performed with many chamber groups, string quartets, and performed with Federal Way and Sammamish Symphony. He spends some of his time adjudicating orchestra festivals and guest conducting around the Puget Sound. David Drassal resides in Renton, Washington.

Annie Drassal

Annie Drassal brings a wealth of professional knowledge with her experience in adolescent pedagogy and professional symphony experience. Belonging to the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association, one of the largest youth symphonies in the United States, she is Assistant Conductor for the Tacoma String Symphony and Tacoma String Philharmonic. In addition to the podium, Mrs. Drassal's  professional expertise is utilized in coaching violins and chamber music ensembles.

As principal conductor, Annie Drassal directs the Intermezzo orchestra of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra Association, where she also manages the ensemble's tours. Mrs. Drassal specializes in developing outstanding youth orchestras and participation continues to increase in numbers.  A highlight includes collaboration with members of the Seattle Rock Orchestra.

Annie Drassal teaches orchestra at Tillicum Middle School in the Bellevue School District. She previously taught elementary string orchestra and at Reeves Middle School in the Olympia School District. She hosting festivals, regular clinics from professional guest artists, and planning trips to the Seattle Opera are some examples of her commitment to a well rounded young musician.

Mrs. Drassal is a violinist for the Olympia Symphony and enjoys playing in an assortment of professional ensembles throughout the Puget Sound area. She regularly adjudicates orchestra festivals and contests. Mrs. Drassal is an advocate professional development and presented to the Music Education department at Pacific Lutheran University. Mrs. Drassal is a member of the Washington Music Educator's Association, National Association for Music Education, and American String Teacher's Association.

Melinda Wharton  

Summer String Academy is excited to welcome outstanding music educator, Melinda Wharton!

Melinda Wharton is in her 26th year of teaching orchestra.  She has been the orchestra director at Mt. Baker since 1999 and added Auburn Riverside to her teaching schedule in 2016. She is a sought after clinician, adjudicator, and private teacher.  She has also enjoyed conducting honor orchestras in the south sound area. She is a past director of both the Auburn Summer Music Camp and the Tacoma Youth Symphony’s Evergreen Music Festival.  She was chosen as the Green River Music Region’s Music Educator of the Year in 2008 and again in 2020. Melinda was recently inducted into the Washington Music Educators Hall of Fame in 2020! She loves to teach orchestra and cannot imagine teaching anything else!

Dave Burfeind

Hey! I’m Dave, and I’ve been the director at Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center for 25+ years. I love to see the positive changes in the campers and guests who visit Lazy F and the improvements in the facilities and grounds through the years. I grew up in Minnesota and am an avid fan of all sports teams from that area. I keep waiting for that elusive Viking Super Bowl victory. . .

I am married to Heather and we have two wonderful kids who are both mature adults. I am also known as the Ringmaster!

Fun fact: My twin brother the Rinkmaster helps in the winter to keep our ice skating rink in good shape.