Dane Alexander Carten is a lifelong musician, performer, and composer, lending his voice in concert halls from Detroit to Tucson in a number of professional choirs such as the Audivi Symphonic/Opera Chorus, Detroit Symphonic Orchestral Choir, Tucson Symphonic Orchestral Choir, and the Helios Ensemble. He spent much of his formative years in the Punk and Metal scenes of Detroit, touring the midwest first as a Death Metal vocalist, then as a Bassist and backup vocalist for several Rock and Pop-Punk bands. During this time he also co-owned and managed the High Octane Concert Lounge in Romeo, MI, and worked to promote, book, and manage local bands across the Metro Detroit area.
Dane holds two Summa Cum Laude degrees in music – the Associate of Music Theory and Composition from Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and the Bachelor of Music Education with a focus in Voice from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Most recently, he finished the Master in Choral Conducting at the University of Arizona in May of 2023. Dane was also awarded high honors for his work in the Communications department during his time at Oakland Community College, where he worked as a Teacher’s Assistant for the Interpersonal Communications course. He also has served as a TA for several other courses across various institutions including Popular Entertainment, Sinatra-Era Music, Rock and American Popular Music, and History of American Popular Music. As of August 2023, he has begun working towards the Doctorate in Choral Conducting with a minor in Composition at the University of Arizona.
Dane has and continues to serve in many teaching and leadership positions; Chancel Choir Director at Lord of Grace Lutheran Church in Marana, Assistant Director of the Helios Ensemble in Tucson, and Artistic Director and founder of the Neoteric Chamber Choir. During his time in Detroit, he helped establish their local chapter of the Justice Choir whilst creating and teaching two separate Children’s Choruses within local Montessori schools. He also worked as Music and Vocal Director on a number of productions including Mamma Mia! and Little Shop of Horrors at Grosse Pointe Theatre in Grosse Pointe, MI. Dane has accumulated over 6 years of experience teaching voice, piano, guitar, ukulele, and public speaking in various private music schools across the Metro Detroit area as well as the Allegro School of Music in Tucson.
