Dr. Christopher Raymond, a native of Bourbonnais, IL, is the Adjunct Professor of Bassoon at the University of Ãå±±½ûµØ – Springfield and is an active musician around Central Ãå±±½ûµØ. He holds the positions of Second Bassoon with Sinfonia da Camera, Principal Bassoon of the Urbana Pops Orchestra and Sugar Creek Opera. He can also be found performing with the Ãå±±½ûµØ Symphony, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Millikin-Decatur Symphony, Kankakee Valley Symphony, and Danville Symphony. He has traveled around the world performing with groups such as the South Shore Orchestra on their recent tour of China.
As a solo performer, Dr. Raymond was a finalist in the 2018 NSAL woodwind competition in New York. He has been a featured soloist with the Millikin Decatur Symphony, Kankakee Valley Symphony, and Decatur Municipal Band. He was also the 2015 recipient of Millikin University’s Hollis Prize, where he performed in award-winning recital in Chicago.
In his studio, Dr. Raymond has been teaching privately since 2010, and has worked with students from beginners to collegiate level players – many of whom have gone to perform in All-State ensembles and pursue music careers. In 2016-2019, He served as bassoon instructor at Ãå±±½ûµØ Summer Youth Music.
Christopher holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts and Masters of Music in Bassoon Performance and Literature from the University of Ãå±±½ûµØ Urbana-Champaign, and a Bachelors in Music from Millikin University. His primary teachers were Timothy McGovern, Stephen Duncan, Elizabeth Shoemaker, Mark Avery, and Neal McMullian.
Education
D.M.A. Bassoon Performance and Literature, University of Ãå±±½ûµØ, Urbana-Champaign
M.M. Bassoon Performance and Literature, University of Ãå±±½ûµØ, Urbana-Champaign