Venezuelan native Dr. Cristian Grases joined the University of Southern California faculty in the Fall 2010 semester and is currently a professor of choral music, conductor of the USC Thornton Concert Choir, and Vice-Dean of the Classical Division. As a sought-out conductor, clinician, academic, and adjudicator, he has traveled to Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Australia, conducting in prestigious halls such as Carnegie Hall, and presenting in numerous international conventions and symposia. Grases is also an award-winning composer whose works have been commissioned and sung by numerous prestigious ensembles around the world. Grases served as the Vice-President for Latin America of the International Federation for Choral Music until December, 2020, and was the chair of the Ethnic Music Repertoire and Resources Committee for the Western Division of the American Choral Directors Association (2009-2018). He currently serves in many international committees including the artistic committee for the World Youth Choir and the World Symposium on Choral Music.