Chris Graham

What do you want patrons to know about you?
An interesting fact is that my brother Patrick is also a musician in the Jacksonville Symphony. It’s pretty rare for siblings to end up in the same orchestra.

Do you have any pre-concert rituals or routines?
Before concerts, I like to try to eat a healthy meal and go for a walk.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a professional musician?
If I weren’t a professional musician, I would probably be a personal chef. I love cooking and sharing good food with people.

What teacher, mentor or other influencer inspired you the most?
My undergraduate teacher Jamie Box has been the most influential teacher in my life. Over the years he has become a good friend, colleague and mentor.

What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I go on long walks with my dog at the beach, or at parks in the Jacksonville area. I also cook a lot.

What has been your favorite moment onstage?
My favorite moment on stage was getting to play Mahler’s 3rd Symphony as an extra musician with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Zubin Mehta was conducting, and I got to listen to my former teacher, James Box, play one of the biggest trombone solos in the repertoire. It was a really incredible experience.

Do you have any pets?
I have a 2-year-old Border Collie named Izzy. She got her name from my favorite Wagner opera, Tristan and Isolde.

Who is your favorite composer?
Richard Strauss

Career Highlights
A few highlights of my career so far have been getting to perform as a soloist with the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and getting to play in a trombone section for two years with my wife in the Erie Philharmonic.

Education
Bachelor of Music from McGill University, Master of Music from Cleveland Institute of Music.