C H R I S C O M B E S T | T U B A A R T I S T
Praised by Brass Bridge Magazine for his “wonderful sense of musicianship and virtuosic technique,” Dr. Chris Combest serves as Associate Professor of Tuba and Assistant Director for Faculty Growth and Student Experience in the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) School of Music. He is also President of the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival, where he provides artistic and organizational leadership for one of the field’s most respected international events.
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At MTSU, Combest teaches applied tuba, chamber music and music industry courses. His administrative work focuses on faculty mentorship, student wellness, and engagement through outreach and digital storytelling, including curating a weekly newsletter for the School of Music, the Friday Fanfare. He previously served as Director of Graduate Studies and as Music Industry Area Coordinator, roles that helped expand partnerships, strengthen curriculum, and increase student participation and recruitment.
​As a performer, Combest maintains an active national and international career as a soloist, orchestral, and chamber musician. He served as Tubist with the Louisville Orchestra, Victoria Symphony (Texas), and the Ash Lawn Opera and Wintergreen Festivals, and has also performed with the Nashville Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony, and Dallas Wind Symphony. He has collaborated with artists including the Canadian Brass, Broadway’s Audra McDonald, and film composer John Williams,
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His work as a session musician includes recordings for Sony, Disney, and NPR, as well as projects for film, television, and video games produced in Nashville. His solo albums Mosaic (2020) and Under Tennessee Skies (2023) received recognition from The American Prize and the Global Music Awards, and nominations for the Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording from the International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA).
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A committed advocate for new music, Combest has commissioned or participated in more than thirty new works for the tuba and euphonium by celebrated composers such as Katahj Copley, John Stevens, Maria Thompson Corley, Alvin Singleton, and Rodney Newton. In 2024, he founded the Greater Nashville Euphonium and Tuba Ensemble, a regional program connecting high school and collegiate musicians through mentorship and shared performance. His students have earned national and international recognition, winning solo competitions, performing with several professional orchestras and U.S. military bands, and pursuing graduate studies at leading institutions. Many have gone on to teach in universities and public schools or to work in the music industry with organizations such as Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Group.
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Combest has served as an adjudicator and guest artist at major conferences and festivals, including the International Tuba Euphonium Conference, Eufonios y Tubas Brazil, and the Leonard Falcone Festival. He is a Life Member of ITEA and formerly served as the association’s Competitions Chair and as an Associate Editor of the ITEA Journal.
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He holds degrees from the University of Illinois, University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University, and studied with Roger Bobo, Mark Moore, John Jones, and James Willett. Dr. Combest is a Performing Artist and Clinician for Buffet Group on B&S and Melton Meinl Weston instruments.