Chan Poling is a songwriter, composer of musical theatre scores, performer, and author.
Starting at age 17 studying music composition at California Institute of the Arts under the mentorship of composer Harold Budd, Chan began collaborating with musicians, choreographers, film-makers, actors and painters, and continues to work in many mediums.
His pop musical career began when his alternative rock band, The Suburbs, was signed to Twin Tone Records in Minneapolis, in turn putting out albums for Polygram, A&M Records and Universal Music, and becoming a touchstone of the “Minneapolis Sound”, among other seminal rock acts of the 1980’s. Chan continues to record and perform with the latest incarnation of that groundbreaking group.
In 2005, Chan, John Munson, and Steve Roehm, founded the trio The New Standards who perform a unique jazzy spin on pop music in theaters and clubs around the world with their large theatrical Holiday Show extravaganza (Anchorage PAC, MIM Phoenix, Lincoln Center NYC, City Wineries NYC & Chicago, State Theater, Mpls, Chicago Theater, ETC), performing with world-class orchestras, holding court as a trio in intimate clubs like Joe’s Pub in NYC and the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, or entertaining corporate clients from Las Vegas to Shanghai, making a variety of albums, videos, animations, films, books, and friends along the way.
Starting at age 17 studying music composition at California Institute of the Arts under the mentorship of composer Harold Budd, Chan began collaborating with musicians, choreographers, film-makers, actors and painters, and continues to work in many mediums.
His pop musical career began when his alternative rock band, The Suburbs, was signed to Twin Tone Records in Minneapolis, in turn putting out albums for Polygram, A&M Records and Universal Music, and becoming a touchstone of the “Minneapolis Sound”, among other seminal rock acts of the 1980’s. Chan continues to record and perform with the latest incarnation of that groundbreaking group.
In 2005, Chan, John Munson, and Steve Roehm, founded the trio The New Standards who perform a unique jazzy spin on pop music in theaters and clubs around the world with their large theatrical Holiday Show extravaganza (Anchorage PAC, MIM Phoenix, Lincoln Center NYC, City Wineries NYC & Chicago, State Theater, Mpls, Chicago Theater, ETC), performing with world-class orchestras, holding court as a trio in intimate clubs like Joe’s Pub in NYC and the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, or entertaining corporate clients from Las Vegas to Shanghai, making a variety of albums, videos, animations, films, books, and friends along the way.
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Musical Theater.
Chan's scores have been produced at: Theatre de La Jeune Lune Guthrie Theater Yale Repertory Theater La Jolla Playhouse Ritz Theater Illusion Theater History Theatre Park Square Theater A dedicated devotee of the form, Chan has written the musical scores and songs for a variety of shows, including: The American Theatre Critics Association's "Best New Play"; "Children of Paradise: Shooting a Dream" composed for the Tony Award-winning Theatre de la Jeune Lune, “Heaven”, originally commissioned by producer Kevin McCollum for The Ordway and directed by Joe Chvala in an award-winning production at the Guthrie Theater, and several shows written with the esteemed playwright Jeffrey Hatcher, including “A Night in Olympus”, “Glensheen”, "Lord Gordon Gordon", and "The Defeat of Jesse James". In the wings: "Heaven Can Wait", the iconic play by Harry Segall and basis of 2 hit movies, now a brand new musical written by Jeffrey Hatcher (Book) with Music & Lyrics by Chan Poling. In the works: "Cousin Bette" a new musical based on Jeffrey Hatcher's award-winning adaptation of the classic Balzac novel. Author. Chan is the published author of a unique illustrated book illustrated by Lucy Michell, "Jack & the Ghost"; a gothic, lyrical evocation of a shipwreck, ghosts, and lost--and found--love in a North Shore town. Look for Chan and Lucy's new children's book, "The Moons", in 2024. Music Licensing. Many film and television producers have licensed from Mr. Poling's extensive and varied catalogue, or commissioned Chan to write an original score, for TV shows, commercials, documentaries, and films. Awards & Notices. The Suburbs were voted as one of the "100 Most Influential Minnesota Musical Entities of the Twentieth Century" by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Chan was awarded MMA's Lifetime “POP” (Perpetually Outstanding Performer) Award. 2 Emmys and a Cine Golden Eagle for films featuring Chan's music. The "Overall Excellence" Ivey for “Glensheen”. "Glensheen" voted "Best of the Decade/Theater" - Mpls Star-Tribune The Sage Award for Best Music for "Heaven". (Guthrie Theater) "POETS PARTY", The Suburbs latest album, made the Minneapolis Star Tribune's "Top Ten Albums of 2021". "Ad of the Week" for Target/"Rattle My Bones" collab - Adweek Magazine |
MN Original's Profile of Chan Poling
Photo © 2023 by Jimmy Steinfeldt
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Artwork by Owen davey |
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