Chris Lawrence
Trumpeter, composer and educator Chris Lawrence began performing music at the age of 7. In 2011, Lawrence was selected as one of five finalists to the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Solo Competition, the most prestigious competition for jazz trumpeters in the world. Chris currently performs with the Chicago based modern jazz quintet, “Prism”, and also the Detroit based quartet, “Modern Mayors.” He is also a member of The Jeff Haas Quintet and Building Bridges with Music, a non-profit organization that aims to promote open mindedness, acceptance and peace through original jazz music.
A 2005 graduate of Western Michigan University (B.A. Music/Philosophy), Chris has had the good fortune of studying trumpet with Steven Jones and Scott Thornburg, and improvisation with Rick Holland, Scott Cowan, Fred Hersch, Kenny Wheeler, Kurt Ellenberger, Ralph Alessi, Chris Speed, Jim Black, and Uri Caine. He has performed with such musicians as Marcus Belgrave, The Temptations, Fred Hersch, John Proulx, The Planet D- Nonet, Arno Marsh, Matt Ulery’s By a Little Light Project, Randy Brecker, Slide Hampton, Claire Fischer, Shawn “Thunder” Wallace, Derico Watson, Fred Anderson, Billy Hart, The Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, Matt Brewer, The Grand Rapids Symphony, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Ray White, Linda Rondstadt, Aaron Neville, Allen Broadbent, and appears on the soundtrack to the feature film, Graffito (Soft Cage Films). Equally as passionate about teaching as he is performing, Chris teaches jazz trumpet and combos at Hope College in Holland, MI.