Christopher Lair

Private Instruction in Tuba and Euphonium. Dr. Christopher Lair currently teaches applied tuba and euphonium at Drury University and Evangel University. He also teaches The Language of Music: Music in Twentieth Century United States at The Missouri State University, and co-directs The Missouri State University Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble. After a career performing with symphony orchestras and U.S. military bands, he is active as a soloist, chamber musician, and scholar. His recent guest soloist appearances include The Missouri State University, The University of Costa Rica, and The Missouri Symphony Society Orchestra. He has also appeared at numerous conferences, universities, and high schools across North and Central America. He is in the process of preparing a second solo tour of Central America and the Carribean in the summer of 2010.

His students have won many honors, including selection as finalists and winners in regional, state, and national competitions sponsored by such organizations as The Music Teachers National Association and The International Tuba Euphonium Association. His students have also appeared on NPR's radio show "From the Top", and in the I.T.E.A. All-Star Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble. They frequently participate in a variety of festivals such as Boston's Tanglewood Institute, The Symphonia Workshop, The Brevard Music Center, and The Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Dr. Lair frequently coaches and serves as a clinician for various large ensembles, chamber ensembles, brass sections, and tuba-euphonium ensembles.

His research interests are centered on music of the United States and solo repertoire for tuba and euphonium. His current scholarship involves presentations on music of the depression era, a comparative analysis of early and modern solo tuba repertoire by major composers, and a collection of arrangements for solo tuba and euphonium of works by early American composers. He is the author of a series of methods for beginning and intermediate tubists and euphoniumists entitled "Journeys – A Methodical Approach for the Young Tubist" and “Journeys – A Methodical Approach for the Young Euphoniumist”. He has commissioned, arranged, and premiered several new pieces for brass quintet, tuba-euphonium ensemble, tuba-euphonium quartet, and solo tuba.

He earned his Doctor of Music degree at The Florida State University, received his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees from the University of Kansas, and studied music education at Southeast Missouri State University. He is a member of the International Tuba Euphonium Association, Music Educators National Conference, The College Music Society, The Historic Brass Society, and Pi Kappa Lambda, a national music honor society. Dr. Lair is a clinician for Kelly Mouthpieces.

For further information, you can contact Mr. Lair directly at

or visit his website here.