Chris DechiaraA native of Boston, Massachusetts, percussionist Chris DeChiara received his education from New England Conservatory (MM) with Academic Honors and Distinction in Performance and from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell (BM), graduating cum laud. He has performed with the Boston Ballet, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Philharmonic, Rhode Island Symphony, Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Concert Artists of Baltimore, Harrisburg Symphony, and National Philharmonic. He has participated in the Rome Festival Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival, Spoleto, Schleswig-Holstein, and was principal percussionist of the World Philharmonic concert in Bonn, Germany, 1999. Published articles appear in issues of Modern Drummer magazine. Chris is currently a member and soloist with the United States Navy Band in Washington DC, drummer of the local cover band, Dr.FU and Iron Maiden tribute Eyes of the Nile, lead singer of Beatles acoustic group Nowhere Men, principal timpanist with the conductorless chamber group, ARS Nova Ensemble, and principal timpanist with Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Washington. He conveys his passion for the arts by mentoring the next generation of musicians, teaching masterclasses, clinics, private lessons, percussion ensembles, drumlines, and coaching orchestral and concert band percussion sections in the DC metropolitan region. Chris resides in Burke, VA, maintaining a home studio where he teaches, produces drum and percussion videos, and records drum and percussion tracks for artists of all genres. More information is available at www.chrisdechiara.com. Read More Read Less