CHRISTOPHER J. COLES

Christopher J. Coles graduated from Cleveland South High School in 2004 while studying with the renowned educator and saxophonist Kenneth Lee Grand. In 2009, Coles received his Bachelor Degree in Saxophone Performance from Youngstown State University where he studied with educators such as: Dr. James C. Umble (saxophone), Dr. Kent Englehardt (saxophone), and Dr. David Morgan (bass). In the midst of developing his own style and sound, Coles went on to receive his Master's Degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Akron in 2012.

Coles has performed with esteemed jazz musicians such as Slide Hampton, Sean Jones, Dan Wilson, Dominick Farinacci, Eddie Baccus Sr., Jamey Haddad, Joe Locke, Kenny Davis, Glenn Holmes, Bill Ransom, Cecil Rucker, Ralph Lalama, Maria Schneider, Carl Allen, Eddie Allen and Allen Vizzutti to name a few. Coles was invited to perform in Italy with the Ohio Youth Jazz Orchestra where he performed with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra’s lead alto saxophonist, Wessell Anderson.

Coles has played at the North American Saxophone Alliance Regional Festival in West Virginia and at the International Saxophone Symposium in Washington D.C. to premiere a commissioned work by John Hollenbeck, which he later recorded on Hollenbeck’s 2009 LP Rainbow Jimmies.

Coles was invited to The Banff Workshop for Jazz and Creative music in Alberta, Canada where he was granted the distinct honor of studying with some of the great jazz pioneers such as: Tia Fuller, Somi, Vijay Iyer, Billy Hart, Mark Turner, Imani Izuri, Ingrid Jensen, Zakir Hussain, Yosvany Terry, and Miles Okazaki to name a few.

Chris is a Yamaha Performing Artist currently based out of Akron, Ohio as co-director of Jazz Studies at The University of Akron, professor at Oberlin College of Music and The Tri-C Creative Arts JazzFest Academy where he takes pride in coaching the next generation of jazz giants.