C H R I S C O M B E S T | T U B A A R T I S T
Praised by Brass Bridge Magazine for his “wonderful sense of musicianship and virtuosic technique,” Dr. Chris Combest is President-Elect of the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium Tuba Festival and Associate Professor of Music at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where he also serves as Music Industry Area Coordinator and previously as Director of Graduate Studies.
He has held faculty appointments at the University of Texas–San Antonio, Southern Illinois University, and the University of Illinois, and has led outreach and recruiting initiatives such as the Greater Nashville Euphonium-Tuba Ensemble, the Middle Tennessee Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble Festival, and statewide All-State preparation resources.
An active performer, Combest served as Principal Tubist with the Louisville Orchestra, Victoria Symphony (Texas), and Ash Lawn Opera and Wintergreen Festivals, with additional appearances with the Nashville Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and the Chattanooga Symphony, as well as the U.S. Army Field Band and Dallas Wind Symphony. He has collaborated with artists including composer John Williams, the Canadian Brass, and Broadway’s Audra McDonald.
His recording credits include projects for NPR, the BBC, Sony, Disney, and various video game and commercial projects. His solo albums Mosaic and Under Tennessee Skies received honors from The American Prize and Global Music Awards and have been recognized by nominations for the Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording by the International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA).
A dedicated advocate for contemporary music, Combest has commissioned over 30 works by composers such as Alvin Singleton, Katahj Copley, Maria Thompson Corley, and John Stevens. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Leonard Falcone Festival and is a Life Member of ITEA, where he was formerly Associate Editor of the ITEA Journal and longtime Competitions Chair. As an adjudicator and guest artist, he appears regularly at international events including ITEC, the Falcone Festival, AETYB (Spain), and Euphonios y Tubas Brazil.
His students have won top honors in national and international competitions and pursued careers in professional ensembles, military bands, education, and music industry roles with companies like Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Group.
He holds degrees from the University of Illinois, University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University, and studied with Roger Bobo, Mark Moore, John Jones, and James Willett. Dr. Combest is a Performing Artist and Clinician for B&S and Melton Meinl Weston.