Teacher Profile: Chris Seay
About Chris Seay
As a creator, educator, and lifelong student, Chris Seay is an individual who has made it his life's pursuit to share with and show others the art of possibility, that is life through music.
Chris is a current doctoral student (D.M.A.- Brass Performance) at the University of Washington, with other formal education including Oklahoma State University (M.M.- Tuba Performance) and Western Carolina University (B.M./B.S.- Music Education). His primary teachers include Dr. John DiCesare, Dr. Ryan Robinson, Dr. Nick Beltchev, and Dr. Michael Schallock, along with the opportunity to work with top orchestral performers such as Gene Pokorny, Mick Mulcahey, Chris Olka, Cristina Cutts Dougherty, Oystein Baadsvik, and Alan Baer.
As an educator, Chris has a diversified set of experiences that create a unique perspective for his students. The amalgamation covers a spectrum of knowing how to motivate and maintain a student's personal standard, as well as the flexibility to teach each individual student. This includes working with private lessons students who have progressed in performance auditions and competitions, 5th grade Music, 6th-8th grade Band, and 8th-12th grade Marching Band, as well as a current position on the education brass staff of the world-renowned Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. Chris is also involved with the College Committee of the International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA).
As a performer, Chris is very active in orchestral and chamber performance. He has performed with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the Tulsa Symphony, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, the Ft. Smith Symphony, the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, the Brevard Philharmonic, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Chris has progressed in multiple international performance competitions, including the 2024 Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival and the Mock Orchestra Audition and Chamber Group competitions of the 2023 International Tuba Euphonium Festival. Chamber music is a favorite setting for Chris, including tuba quartet, ensemble, and duets, as well as a brass quartet residency with the New York Philharmonic educational partnership program.
Aside from his work as a musician and teacher, Chris loves to spend his time in nature, reading, practicing photography, trying new foods, and relaxing with his pets (Margo, Remi, and Mimi). There are always new perspectives to experience!