Macs Music Services
Performance & Events
Dan McElrath Appointed Artistic Director - Coast Chorale
As Coast Chorale wraps up an era with the retirement of Mr. Allen Henson, the Board of Directors is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Dan McElrath as the new Artistic Director. Dan and his wife Christy, along with their family moved from Alaska to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in October of 2022. He joined the Coast Chorale as a singer in January of 2023.
Dan says, “I had no idea when I joined Coast Chorale in January that I would be your new conductor for the fall season, but I am honored to follow in the distinguished footsteps of Allen Henson and hope to bring new energy and excitement as we move the group forward. I am very excited about returning to my choral roots and working with the Coast Chorale family.”
Dan has a degree in secondary music education from the Furman University School of Music, is a United States Air Force veteran, and is a 40-year business owner including his current business as owner and concert piano technician at Macs Music Services. Dan has conducted both church and high school choirs as well as church orchestras, and high school bands and was Musical Director of his own band – the Dan Mac Band in Alaska.
His conducting repertoire includes Bach cantatas, pieces by John Rutter, Vivaldi, and excerpts from Handel’s Messiah. In addition, he has directed musicals such as Fame, Annie, Oliver, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and Gold Rush Girls.
Coast Chorale is a community organization founded in 1992, made up of local singers, supported by local musicians, and funded by local benefactors. Dan would like to invite all interested singers to join him at the first rehearsal on August 22nd at the Diamondhead Community Church, Diamondhead.
Dan McElrath & the Dan Mac Band has performed throughout the US at weddings, festivals, churches, and auditoriums for almost 40 years. Dan was voted #1 Alaska Jazz Musician in 2012 and has been listed as the #1 jazz band in Alaska by Reverbnation since 2012 with almost 16,000 plays. He and his wife Christy also organize & produce live fundraising events that range from solo piano and jazz trios to 9-piece show bands and 23-piece big bands. Dan is also very active in Christian music circles as a keyboard/piano seminar instructor teaching improvisational techniques in jazz and worship styles. Dan has engineered live sound in venues ranging in size from small festivals and churches to auditoriums of 8,000.
This video provides a glimpse of the music Dan and his team has performed over the years. From House concerts to large performances in remote Alaska and everywhere in between the Dan Mac Band is sure to entertain any crowd. Additionally, as an educator, Dan is passionate about encouraging music within the schools. Dan and his band have organized 2-4 day music education workshops in high school and middle schools offering percussion, vocal, guitar, piano, and improvisational courses. The workshops end with a performance for parents and the community. The group also participates in fundraising events bringing an array of talent and entertainment to the crowds. In this video vocalist, John Pypes Teamer challenges and encourages a student group who was performing at a fundraiser for cancer.
“Our Halibut Cove Live events have become very important fundraisers for the Homer Foundation. Dan McElrath, The Dan Mac Band, and his amazing guest artists have helped to make these shows the “not-to-be-missed” events of the summer. You could not ask for a better group of people with which to work. Amazing musicians, professional and fun! Plus, they put on a GREAT show!”
“We have used the Dan Mac Band for both back-up entertainment as well as featuring them for fundraising concerts. Their professionalism, energy and talent is unmatched in Alaska. Their musical skills are extraordinary which allow for broad song array. Dan organizes the band well and they are always perfectly prepared. We will continue to use them in the future. Charity Carmody, President of Beacon Hill”
“The Dan Mac Band came to Cordova to perform a ‘Welcome the Piano Christmas Concert’ on Dec. 30th, 2017. And… what a concert it was!! Dan brought vocalist John “Pypes” Teamer and bassist Dirk Westfall, former Air Force band members., Cameron Cartland played drums. They put on a fantastic concert with a variety of numbers ranging from Stevie Wonder to the Charlie Brown Christmas song. The band learned Seasons of Love the night before the concert and performed a moving rendition with students from the hi school., It was so beautiful and touched the heart of many of the audience. Dan is quite a talented pianist and really showed off the sound of the new grand. I had chills and was on such a high after the concert!”
“WONDERS OF WONDER IS MORE THAN A TRIBUTE TO ONE OF THE GREATEST MUSICIANS EVER – THIS SHOW IS AN INCREDIBLE FEAT BY DAN MAC, VOCALIST JOHN “PYPES” TEAMER, AND THEIR HARD GROOVING BAND! THE ROOM ERUPTED WITH JOY AND ENERGY, AND NO ONE COULD STAND STILL FOR A MINUTE! PEOPLE WHO CAME AWAY FROM THE CONCERT CHANGED – FOR THE BETTER… AN ABSOLUTE 5-STAR REVIEW – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED EXPERIENCE – I BET STEVIE WONDER WISHES HE HAD BEEN THERE !!”
