Chris Dempsey
Trombone
Chris Dempsey holds a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Performance from the Berklee College of Music, and a Master's Degree in Jazz Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. His primary teachers include Mark L. Lusk, Phil Wilson, Jeff Galindo, Hal Crook, Steve Turre, Tiger Okoshi, and Luis Bonilla.
Chris has performed across the United States as both a soloist and sideman, having toured most notably with the Artie Shaw Orchestra. Chris has also shared the stage with The Gene Krupa Orchestra, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, Slide Hampton, Tony BRavi Coltrane, Pat Monahan (of Train), and more. In 2009, Chris auditioned for and was invited to join the world renowned Glenn Miller Orchestra. Given the year-long commitment that was required, Chris declined the opportunity, taking the time instead to focus on starting a family with his young wife.
As a young man, Chris was the winner of the National Jazz Trombone Soloist Competition, the ITA Kai Winding Competition, the National Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition, and was twice a finalist for the ITA J.J. Johnson Soloist Competition.
In 2014, at the age of 33, Chris retired from music, taking a five year hiatus to focus on a career in Numismatics. In 2019, Chris came out of retirement and has begun performing once again in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.