Bruce Mangum grew up in Nampa, Idaho, where he began studying piano at age 7, and was proficient by age 10. In high school, he accompanied the Teen Choir of his church, Nampa First Church of the Nazarene, who had the opportunity to perform at the Vancouver World Expo in 1986. Bruce went on to win several music and performance scholarships throughout high school and college, including the Compton Composition Contest. In college, he sang baritone in the Men's Glee Club and the College Chorale, and accompanied the Women's Chorus. These groups toured throughout the Pacific Northwest and Victoria, BC, during his college years.
Bruce graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor's degree in Applied Piano, and complete one year toward a Master's Degree from the University of Idaho the following year. He then moved to Portland, OR, in 1995, where he served as musical director and accompanist for community theatre productions of RAGS, A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, where he stepped in as a substitute, and learned the entire score in one rehearsal, I DO! I DO!, IRENE, and an original musical, IN SMALL DOSES. He won Musical Director of the Year in 1997 for his work in IRENE. He also made it his full-time career to accompany voice and opera students at Portland State University, as well as provided music for the local river cruise ship, the Portland Spirit.
Bruce has traveled extensively with his music, first with an interdenominational Gospel group called the Celebrant Singers during the summer or 1993, then as Atrium Pianist for Princess Cruise Lines from 1999 to 2002. He toured the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, as well as ports in the Mediterranean, Hawaii and Tahiti, and finally was able to satisfy his travel bug (at least for the time being!). He then moved to Denver in 2003, where he was accompanist for the Denver Opera Company, until the company went defunct 2 years later. While working at Tower Records there in Denver, he accompanied the church choir at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Rockies. It was at this church that he met his partner, Dan Hodges, and they quickly made plans to move to Palm Springs, both as a career move for Bruce, and a lifelong fulfillment for Dan.
Shortly after their move to the Coachella Valley in 2005, Bruce landed the principal accompanist position for the Caballeros, as well as Music Director for the Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist Church in Indio. He has given a couple of Classical piano recitals at the church in 2006, and plans on a regular concert series starting in 2007. Presently, Bruce is also employed by the Palm Springs Unified School District, and accompanies the choirs at Cathedral City High School under the direction of Mr. Noel White.
Last Spring, Bruce played piano for Palm Desert High School's musical production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. He loves living in Palm Springs with Dan and their Yorkie named Wolfgang ("Wolfy"), and thoroughly enjoys working with Alan Scott and the Caballeros. He looks forward to many more exciting seasons with the Chorus.