A powerfully virtuosic and multifaceted clarinetist, Chris Grymes’ playing is “eloquent. . .animated and free of any interpretive self-indulgence” (The Strad) and “scintillating in its energy and technique” (The Clarinet). Chris is a musician with a broad portfolio: a tenured professor, a principal orchestral clarinetist, a concerto soloist, a chamber musician, a commissioning collaborative artist, and an active producer of modern classical recordings and performances under his indie label, Open G Records. Chris was a founding board member and a presenting partner at National Sawdust in Brooklyn, NY, which allowed Chris to curate and produce concerts featuring both established performers and composers as well as emerging artists. Most recently, Chris performed on stage at a sold-out Madison Square Garden with Vulfpeck, something he also did in 2019. Currently Chris is curating and planning recordings of the many works written for him over his 30 year career.
Chris grew up in Virginia Beach, VA, where his first clarinet teacher was F. Edward Knakal. He went on to study with Eli Eban, Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, and Nathan Williams. He now lives in New York City with his wife Rachel and his sons Saul, 13, and Lenny, 3. Chris is currently a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under professor Luca Atalla at the Renzo Gracie Academy-Upper West Side.
Mayfest 