American tubist Dr. Chris Combest resides in Nashville, Tennessee, where he leads an active career as a performer and educator as assistant professor of music at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and as principal tuba with the Nashville Opera. Prior to joining the music faculty at MTSU, he served on the faculties of the University of Texas-San Antonio, Southern Illinois University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and is the former tubist with the Louisville Orchestra.

As a performer, Combest has appeared with the Indianapolis Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, Illinois Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony, Dallas Wind Symphony, the Tone Road Ramblers, and various artists, including film composer John Williams, the Canadian Brass, and Broadway star Audra McDonald. In addition to his studio work in Nashville, he can be heard on broadcasts for National Public Radio, the BBC, and recordings for Sony and Disney.  His debut solo recording, Under Tennessee Skies, was recognized with a Silver Medal for Outstanding Achievement by the Global Music Awards (2021), and a nomination for the Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording (2021) by the International Tuba Euphonium Association. His latest solo recording, MOSAIC released in December 2022 and was again recognized with a Silver Medal for Outstanding Achievement by the Global Music Awards (2023).
 

As a teacher, Dr. Combest’s students have won ITEA Competitions, placed in the artist and young artist divisions of the Leonard Falcone International Solo Competition, are members of U.S. military bands, and occupy college teaching positions. He has adjudicated in various international solo competitions, such as the Leonard Falcone Euphonium-Tuba Competition, the Asociación Española de Tubas y Bombardios, and the International Tuba Euphonium Association Competition. He has performed at various national and international conferences, festivals, and workshops including the International Tuba Euphonium Conference, the Burgos Chamber Music Festival, and the U.S. Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Workshop in Washington, D.C.

A dynamic supporter of new music, Dr. Combest has participated in the commissioning of dozens of new works for the tuba and euphonium in collaboration with such composers as Stephen Rush, Alvin Singleton, Barbara York, John Stevens, Rodney Newton, Robert Litton, James Grant, James Stephenson, and Ethan Wickman. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium Tuba Competition, where he serves as the Tuba Competitions Music Chair and is a Life Member of the International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA). His teachers include Roger Bobo, Mark Moore, John Jones, and Jim Willett.

Chris Combest is a Buffet Performing Artist and Clinician for Melton Meinl Weston and B&S instruments