Chris Perry
Chris has been playing music since he was old enough to crawl onto a piano bench and play songs by ear. From there he played several instruments in school bands (led by the magnificent "Mr. Mac", ie. Robert McAllister) before settling into the clarinet and then the saxophone. He continued playing saxophone all the way into high school, where the allure of the guitar captured his attention. In college Chris played guitar and piano as he worked on a BA in composition. Chris's college career was long, due to the distractions of traveling to Ireland and Mexico, as well as the fostering of a love of English and Irish literature but eventually he graduated summa cum laude from ASU with a BA in Music Composition and Theory with a minor in English literature. During these years he studied with many musicians that had a powerful influence on him: Mesut Ozgen, Frank Koonce, Jody Rockmaker, among others. But perhaps the most important musician he met was the woman that would become his wife, Anali. They have been married happily since 2000.
After ASU Chris taught private music lessons as well as worked for different schools teaching both music and English. Anali and Chris (aka "The Perry Duo") also performed many gigs in the greater Phoenix area. It was during this time that Chris considered making a career out of teaching English, and he went back to ASU and obtained a masters degree in English literature. Specifically his love of Irish music and culture led him to write a thesis on Irish mythology and Catholicism. But circumstance drew Chris back into the fold of music when he was hired by BASIS Scottsdale to build a music program for their new middle school.
Seven years passed, filled with great memories and great music. The music program at BASIS grew from a general music class and a nine-person band to eventually involve more than 60 students, four performing groups as well as piano classes. Chris also grew over the years of teaching, performing, arranging and composing. It was during this time that he fell thoroughly in love with music.
Seven years passed, filled with great memories and great music. The music program at BASIS grew from a general music class and a nine-person band to eventually involve more than 60 students, four performing groups as well as piano classes. Chris also grew over the years of teaching, performing, arranging and composing. It was during this time that he fell thoroughly in love with music.
It was during Chris's tenure at BASIS that he began directing the St. Mark's Episcopal Praise Band, where he has been since 2004. That same year he joined the Mesa City Band under the direction of Tom Kasare and, after Tom's retirement, under Larry Baedke. In particular, Mr. Baedke has given Chris invaluable advice over the years and helped him to grow as a director in many ways. Chris continues to play regularly with both of these musical groups, as well as others in the greater Phoenix area.
Over the years Chris has played many instruments, from recorder to African drums. But even more important than the instruments that he has played are the people that he has known. He has worked with many musicians--some of them well-known, but even more of them are not as well-known as they are great. It is the people with which one makes music that makes music special, and this continues to be one of Chris's guiding principles.
Over the years Chris has played many instruments, from recorder to African drums. But even more important than the instruments that he has played are the people that he has known. He has worked with many musicians--some of them well-known, but even more of them are not as well-known as they are great. It is the people with which one makes music that makes music special, and this continues to be one of Chris's guiding principles.
MOST RECENTLY:
• April 2013 - Spring Taizé Service at St. Mark's
• March 2013 - Sunland Singers Spring Concert
• December 2012 - Perry Project Recital #5
• November 2012 - Taizé Service #3 at St. Mark's
• October 2012 - 3rd season as Pianist for Swing Memories Big Band
• October 2012 - 3rd season as Assistant Conductor of the Silveridge Pops
• September 2012 - 2nd season as Director of Sunland Singers
• September 2012 - 3rd season as Assistant Director of the Mesa City Band
• August 2012 - Hired as Music Director, Choir Director and Organist at St. Mark's Episcopal Church
• May 2012 - Perry Project Recital #4
• April 2012 - Attended Episcopal Music and Liturgy Summit, Scottsdale AZ
• March 2012 - Sunland Singers Spring Concert
• December 2011 - Perry Project Recital #3
• December 2011 - Taize Service #2
• December 2011 - Produced and directed the Winter Concert for Sunland Singers
• October 2011 - Began 2nd season as Pianist for Swing Memories Big Band
• October 2011 - Began 2nd season as Assistant Conductor of the Silveridge Pops
• September 2011 - Began 1st season as Director of Sunland Singers
• September 2011 - Began 2nd season as Assistant Director of the Mesa City Band
• Summer 2011 - Played a second season (flute) with the Chandler Summer Band
• May 2011 - Hired as Director of the Sunland Singers Choir
• May 2011 - Perry Project Recital #2
• April 2011 - Taize Service #1
• March 2011 - Hired as Assistant Director of the Mesa City Band
• January 2011 - Hired as Assistant Conductor of the Silveridge Pops
• December 2010 - Perry Project Recital #1
• November 2010 - Began assisting Larry Baedke with conducting duties of the Mesa City Band
• November 2010 - Joined the flute section of the Silveridge Pops Orchestra in Mesa, under the direction of Julie Mahoney
• September 2010 - Hired as pianist for Swing Memories
• August 2010 - Played percussion and piano with the Chandler Summer Band
• Summer 2010 - Resigned as Music Director from BASIS Scottsdale, with fondest farewells and memories
• April 2013 - Spring Taizé Service at St. Mark's
• March 2013 - Sunland Singers Spring Concert
• December 2012 - Perry Project Recital #5
• November 2012 - Taizé Service #3 at St. Mark's
• October 2012 - 3rd season as Pianist for Swing Memories Big Band
• October 2012 - 3rd season as Assistant Conductor of the Silveridge Pops
• September 2012 - 2nd season as Director of Sunland Singers
• September 2012 - 3rd season as Assistant Director of the Mesa City Band
• August 2012 - Hired as Music Director, Choir Director and Organist at St. Mark's Episcopal Church
• May 2012 - Perry Project Recital #4
• April 2012 - Attended Episcopal Music and Liturgy Summit, Scottsdale AZ
• March 2012 - Sunland Singers Spring Concert
• December 2011 - Perry Project Recital #3
• December 2011 - Taize Service #2
• December 2011 - Produced and directed the Winter Concert for Sunland Singers
• October 2011 - Began 2nd season as Pianist for Swing Memories Big Band
• October 2011 - Began 2nd season as Assistant Conductor of the Silveridge Pops
• September 2011 - Began 1st season as Director of Sunland Singers
• September 2011 - Began 2nd season as Assistant Director of the Mesa City Band
• Summer 2011 - Played a second season (flute) with the Chandler Summer Band
• May 2011 - Hired as Director of the Sunland Singers Choir
• May 2011 - Perry Project Recital #2
• April 2011 - Taize Service #1
• March 2011 - Hired as Assistant Director of the Mesa City Band
• January 2011 - Hired as Assistant Conductor of the Silveridge Pops
• December 2010 - Perry Project Recital #1
• November 2010 - Began assisting Larry Baedke with conducting duties of the Mesa City Band
• November 2010 - Joined the flute section of the Silveridge Pops Orchestra in Mesa, under the direction of Julie Mahoney
• September 2010 - Hired as pianist for Swing Memories
• August 2010 - Played percussion and piano with the Chandler Summer Band
• Summer 2010 - Resigned as Music Director from BASIS Scottsdale, with fondest farewells and memories
