Zeke has performed at several international orchestral conducting competitions, among them are the Khachaturian International Conducting Competition, Lliria City of Music International Orchestra Conducting Competition, Lake Como International Orchestra Conducting Competition, and the Blue Danube International Opera Conducting Competition. Equally at home in front of the orchestra, in the opera pit, or working with a chorus, his versatile leadership and innovative programming challenge traditional thinking about the performing arts.  

Zeke received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where he studied with Neil Varon.  He also served as the assistant conductor for Leonard Slatkin, David Zinman, and Mark Gibson during their guest performances with the Eastman Philharmonia.  Zeke is the former Music Director and Conductor of the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra and has served as the Assistant Conductor of the Eugene Opera, Oregon Mozart Players, and Oregon Music Festival.  He holds a minor emphasis in Music Leadership in addition to a dual Master of Music degree in Conducting from the University of Oregon where he worked with Dr. David M. Jacobs during his studies in orchestral conducting and Dr. Sharon J. Paul throughout his time as a choral conductor.  He has performed in workshops and masterclasses with many of the industry’s leading conducting teachers including: Leonard Slatkin, David Zinman, Mark Gibson, Brad Lubman, Matthew Halls, Matthew Oltman, Markand Thakar, Helmuth Rilling, Mark Scatterday, and Simon Carrington.

Zeke has extensive collegiate teaching experience in the United States.  He has worked as the Assistant Conductor of the Eastman Philharmonia and a Graduate Assistant on full scholarship at the Eastman School of Music, teaching conducting and directing ensembles during his doctoral studies.  As a member of the music faculty at Concordia University he taught conducting, composition, ensemble performance, music history, arranging, and orchestration. He is an accomplished singer who has performed and conducted across the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Ireland, Armenia, Bulgaria, and Russia. He performed with the University of Oregon Chamber Choir under the direction of Dr. Sharon J. Paul, winning first prize in the 2013 Fleischmann International Trophy Competition at the Cork International Choral Festival in Cork, Ireland as well as second prize in the 2015 International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf, Germany.