Christopher Graham
Lecturer, Percussion
Co-Program Head
More About Me
Percussionist Dr. Christopher Graham is a new music specialist living and working in New York City. Dr. Graham has worked and performed with notable ensembles such as Newband, Ensemble Mise-en, Talea Ensemble, Talujon Percussion, Mantra Percussion, and is a founding member and director of Hypercube and Iktus Percussion. Dr. Graham has toured throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, and Asia. Additionally playing a variety of musical styles, he performs often in New York City at venues such as National Sawdust, (Le)Poisson Rouge, Merkin Hall, Issue Project Room, Roulette, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Described by The New Yorker as an, “authoritative of percussion”, Dr. Graham is at the forefront of championing new works for the advant-garde, commissioning and premiering new pieces by established composers such as Charles Wuorinen, John Luther Adams, and Michael Gordon. He has recorded for New Focus Recordings, New Amsterdam Records, Cantaloupe Music, Kotekan Records, LockStep Records, and performs and records often for the American Composers Alliance and American Promotion of New Music organizations.
As a music educator, Dr. Graham has conducted and participated in masterclasses and workshops at over 50 universities and colleges throughout the United States and Europe. He is the Co-Head of percussion studies at SUNY Purchase College, and is on the music faculty for the Special Music School, Lucy Music School, and Face The Music programs at the Kaufman Music Center, where he provides private music instruction and directs various ensembles.
Dr. Graham’s past teachers include, Brian Kendrick, Herbert Flower, Dominic Donato, Raymond DesRoches, Tom Kolor, Joseph Pereira, and Eduardo Leandro. He has a B.M. from SUNY Purchase, M.M. and D.M.A from Stony Brook University. He is sponsored by Marimba One and Vic Firth mallets.