Christopher Dobbins Associate Professor of Music, Director of Instrumental Activities

Wilson Hall 4029
540-458-8856
dobbinsc@wlu.edu
Sabbatical 2023-2024

Dr. Christopher Dobbins is the Director of Instrumental Activities at Washington & Lee University, where he conducts the University Wind Ensemble, University Orchestra, and teaches conducting and music education courses in the department. Prior to his appointment at W&L, Chris was Director of Bands & Brass Studies at Sul Ross State University and taught at Our Lady of the Lake University, Texas A&M International University, and Saint Mary’s Hall College Preparatory School.

Chris holds the Doctor of Education in Music Education degree from the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music. He also earned the Master of Music degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Utah where he studied with Larry Zalkind, Jim Nova, and Dr. Donn Schaefer. At Utah, he was a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Utah Bands, where he worked with the Marching Utes, gymnastics band, and served as a guest conductor with the acclaimed University of Utah Wind Ensemble. Chris earned the Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone Performance and the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Hastings College, where he was the institution's Theodore Presser Scholar in 2006.

Chris is active as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. In addition to his academic conducting engagements, he is active as a guest conductor, conducting numerous performances of honor bands, music festivals, and academic and community ensembles in the US and abroad. He has been a guest clinician at a number of festivals throughout the country, and is often engaged as a guest clinician for high school instrumental ensembles and marching bands working towards contest. A strong advocate for new music, Chris has been part of more than sixty world premier performances since 2011.

As a trombonist, Chris has had the opportunity to perform in a wide range of styles. He has performed with the San Antonio Wind Symphony, the Heart of Texas Concert Band, the Orchestra of the Big Bend, the Utah Philharmonia, the Salt Lake Symphony Orchestra, the Stratford Street Big Band, and the Hastings Symphony Orchestra. From 2006-2016, Chris served as the Assistant Director of the International Trombone Festival, and has been involved with festivals from Salt Lake City, Utah to Aarhus, Denmark, and many locations in between.

Chris maintains professional affiliations with the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Virginia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, the College Band Directors National Association, the College Orchestra Directors Association, the International Trombone Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He currently resides in beautiful Lexington, VA with his wife Heather, daughter Ginny, and a houseful of furry children.

Chris is an Educational Clinician for Jupiter Band Instruments and performs exclusively on Jupiter XO Trombones and Hammond Design mouthpieces.