Chris Sies

Latitude 49, Calgary Philharmonic, S[K]IES

Living in multiple musical dimensions, Chris Sies seeks to bring visceral sonic experiences to audiences through his “virtuoso flair” (Detroit Free Press) and unique voice. Having made a career primarily as a chamber musician, Chris has composed, produced, and performed with a multitude of artists, collaborating with 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, Kid Millions with Man Forever, the JUNO-award 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, Princeton University, along with performances on the Vans Warped Tour, Sled Island Music and Arts Festival, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Detroit’s Strange Beautiful Music, and the Bowling Green New Music Festival.

Aside from his work as a composer/performer, Chris is an in-demand orchestral musician, having performed with various orchestras across North America and Europe and is now the Principal Percussionist of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to New Amsterdam Records, Chris can be heard on New Focus Recordings, Furious Artisans, Flag Day Recordings, A New Age for New Age, and the NAXOS recording labels. Chris now proudly calls Calgary home as a founder and co-director of the Sound Atlas New Music Festival and is on the music faculty at the University of Calgary. He is the percussionist of the cross-continental new music ensemble, Latitude 49 and regularly performs under his solo moniker S[K]IES - a project dedicated to percussion, electronics and noise, inspired by his doctoral research involving the modulation of listening mechanisms within altered states of consciousness.

Chris Sies'S SETUP:

1.14" HiHats - K Constantinople (top), K Custom Session (bottom) *
2.Stack - 9" FX Oriental Trash Splash (bottom), 6" Splash (top) *
3.19" K Dark Thin Crashes
4.22" K Custom High Definition Ride
5.10" FX China Trash
6.15" FX Azuka Latin Multi-Crash *
7.16" K Dark Thin Crashes

* May be prototype

Chris
Sies's
IN 3

Chris Sies's
IN 3

  • WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

    I get inspired by a lot of things in life like good sci-fi books, soul-southing modern art, hikes in high places, and of course the countless students I've been honored to teach over the years. On stage, I'm constantly inspired by the people I get to play with its sharing a bill with the most outlandish of noise acts, playing with incredible colleagues in the Calgary Philharmonic, or with premiering brand new work with my musical soulmates in Latitude 49.

  • WORDS OF WISDOM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF DRUMMERS

    A life in music is a commitment to being a lifelong student of sound, culture, and empathy. Getting into a room and trying to get better bit by bit seems simple enough but can be really hard! Passion, discipline, and focus are of course key to any artist's fulfillment but you have to know it in your bones that music, sound, and connecting with people through your work are what really gives you life.

  • FAVORITE ZILDJIAN CYMBAL/COMBO

    K Constantinople 18" Medium Light Crash Cymbals

Chris Sies’S GO-TO’S

BEHIND THE KIT

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER ARTISTS