Principal Bassoon of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Sales continues to bring beauty and joy to Calgary’s classical music audience. Sales has performed as Principal Bassoon with the Norrkoping, Charleston, Jacksonville, and as Associate Principal Bassoon of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared as a Guest Musician with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Alabama Symphony, New World Symphony, Augusta Symphony, and the Savannah Symphony.
Described as “fleet-fingered and nimble” by the Calgary Herald, Chris has showcased his virtuosity in concerto performances with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the Eastern Music Festival Faculty series, the Aspen Academy of Conducting Orchestra, and the Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, VA. During the 2008 Woodwind Concerto Competition at the Aspen Music Festival and School, Christopher won and performed the Mozart Basoon Concerto to great acclaim.
Sales has also performed numerous solo recitals at such institutions as the Univeristy of Florida, Florida State University, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of North Carolina in Greensboro, Valdosta State University. He was also the Guest Artist at the Edmonton Bassoon Bash, as well as Guest Artist on the Piccolo Spoleto recital series in Charleston, SC.
As a chamber musician, Christopher has appeared with the Bellingham, Lucerne, Aspen, Sarasota, and Eastern Music Festivals, Piccolo Spoleto, and is the founder of the infamous Bassooner or Later Bassoon Ensemble. He has worked with such esteemed conductors as Pierre Boulez, David Zinman, James Levine, Roberto Abbado, Alan Gilbert, Michael Tilson Thomas, Hans Graf, Robert Spano, Marin Alsop, and David Robertson among many others.
Christopher Sales worked with William Winstead and Martin James at the University of Cincinnati – CCM for his Undergraduate Music Degree, and with Whitney Crockett at the Juilliard School for his Master of Music Degree.