C.S. Watterson

Classical composer and audio engineer C.S. Watterson has been involved with the creation of music since he was only four years old. Originally playing percussion, and then moving on to wind instruments in his early teens. At the age of fourteen, Watterson made a transition to choral music, and instantly fell in love with it. His desire to learn about music, how it worked, and what he could do with it took a giant leap forward, and he never looked back. Learning under the esteemed composer and conductor Andrea Klouse, C.S. Watterson quickly became well-versed in the intricacies and nuances which embody choral music production and performance. During his freshman year, Andrea Klouse asked Watterson to help her write and edit a choral piece, and "I Leave You With A Song" was published later that year. Even in these early years, he won top honors at state-wide solo and small ensemble contests, and was a member of the choir that swept the "Best In The Northwest" multi-state competition in 2000. In 2003, Watterson spotted a need for a community men-only choral group (to offset the locally prestigious Tahoma Girls Choir), and founded the Vivace! Men's Choir. Since its inception that year, Vivace! has grown into three different mixed choirs with over 500 members, which annually tour the United States and Europe.

In high school, Watterson performed in eight different choral and instrumental ensembles, sung the national anthem at professional sporting events, and developed a keen interest in music theory. Under the tutelage of Bernard Crouse, he wrote his first two choral compositions, which were performed by the choirs later in the year. Also during his time in high school, Watterson continued to take top honors in state, and multi-state solo and small ensemble competitions, and was a member of All-State and All-Northwest choirs. Other than competitions, C.S. Watterson has performed for state governments of Washington and Hawai'i, at state fairs, and in local venues for charity work. It was also in high school where Watterson soon found the next passion in his life: recording and engineering audio. While in the studio (Orbit Audio) recording the first of two full-length albums for melodic hardcore band Straight*Line, he began to take an interest in the recording and engineering processes of making the record. Under the supervision of main engineer Joe Reineke, Watterson began to develop and hone his skills in this forum of the music world, and excelled.

After high school, Watterson attended Pacific Lutheran University, where he further expanded his knowledge, respect and love for the art of creating music. He studied under Doctors Richard Nance and Kathryn Lehmann, and was a member of the world-renowned Choir of the West, performing at prestigious venues across the United States and Europe. It was is also in college that Watterson began to teach himself more instruments, including a variety of woodwinds and the full cadre of orchestral strings. After college, Watterson went on to continue performing with local bands, as well as composing several pieces, for voices and symphonic orchestras.

He has recently begun an adventure into scoring for film, television and video games. Watterson is an assistant composer and technical advisor at Wunderhorn Music, under master film composer Klaus Badelt. He has worked on various projects with composers Christopher Carmichael, Mark Anthony Yaeger, Andrew Raiher and Ian Honeyman.