Brandon R. Monse
Brandon Monse, Chair of the Department of Performing & Fine Arts at Western High School (Davie, Fla.) has served as the choral director there since 2006. Under his direction, Western’s choruses have received Superior ratings at district and state level music performance assessments sanctioned by the Florida Vocal Association. With over eighteen years at the podium, he is Western’s longest-tenured director. Mr. Monse’s ensembles have performed with festival choruses at Carnegie Hall in 2016 and 2019.
In addition to choral direction, Mr. Monse is an active ensemble singer and has performed in choral ensembles for over thirty years, appearing under acclaimed conductors including Dr. Kevin Fenton, Dr. André Thomas, Bobby McFerrin, and Krzysztof Penderecki. He has performed at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Rodney Eichenberger. He completed vocal studies with distinguished vocalists including the late Janice Harsanyi, Roy Delp, David Wingate, and Yvonne Ciannella, as well as baritone Kyle Ferrill, and tenor Thomas Glenn; and conducting studies with Dr. André J. Thomas, Dr. Kevin Fenton and Dr. Judy Bowers.
Brandon holds Master of Music Education and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from The Florida State University College of Music. He is the statewide Technology Chair for Florida Vocal Association, and previously was chair of FVA District 15 Broward County. He holds memberships in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), The National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Florida Music Education Association (FMEA), Florida Vocal Association (FVA), the Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME), and the Broward County Vocal Teachers Association (BCVTA).
Brandon Monse resides in Coral Springs, Florida with his wife, music educator Tara Callahan, their son, and their house rabbit. They are members of the House Rabbit Society.