Chris Sies
Living in multiple musical dimensions, percussionist and composer Chris Sies seeks to bring visceral sonic experiences to audiences through his unique voice and “virtuoso flair” (Detroit Free Press). Chris has composed and performed with a multitude of artists, collaborating in acts such as the GRAMMY award-winning Attacca Quartet, the Akropolis Reed Quintet, the National Arab Orchestra, Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble, Shara Nova’s My Brightest Diamond, and the JUNO-nominated Land’s End Ensemble among many others. He has performed extensively throughout North America at venues including the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, (le) poisson rouge, and Princeton University, with performances on the Vans Warped Tour, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, the Bowling Green New Music Festival, and Detroit’s Strange Beautiful Music.
Possessing a “searing intensity” (College Music Symposium), Chris made his debut on New Amsterdam Records in 2019 as the percussionist and composer with the cross-continental new music ensemble, Latitude 49 on the release of their second album Wax and Wire. Aside from his work as a composer and chamber musician, Chris is an in-demand orchestral percussionist, having performed with various orchestras across North America and Europe including the Sarasota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic, and the Grafenegg Academy Orchestra, among others. In addition to New Amsterdam Records, Chris can be heard on New Focus Recordings, Furious Artisans, Flag Day Recordings, and NAXOS recording labels. Currently based in Calgary, Chris is currently on faculty at the University of Calgary, co-directs the Sound Atlas New Music Festival, and is a member of the Luminous.space artist collective.