Conductor Ray Chew’s job as the music director of Dancing With the Stars is difficult. It requires a high level of musical skill, the ability to orchestrate many pieces from week to week and to quickly adapt to changes as the stars and their pro dance partners fine-tune their choreography. Add in rehearsals and managing an 18-person band and one would be surprised to learn that Chew even has time to breathe, let alone be as coolly relaxed as when we spoke to him. Although his efforts are rarely seen on camera, they are most certainly heard.

After all, it’s pretty hard to dance without music (though not impossible, especially after seeing Season 22 champ Nyle DiMarco , who is deaf, take the Mirrorball trophy home in 2016). Chew says he was “recruited” for Dancing in 2014 after serving

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