Christopher Finet  

Christopher Finet
Assistant Professor of Practice 
String Bass and Jazz Studies 
Office: Bldg. 37, Room 139A
Phone: 928-523-3779
Email: Christopher.Finet@nau.edu

Chris Finet joined the faculty of NAU’s School of Music in the fall of 2012. He teaches double bass along with directing the jazz ensembles and teaching jazz improvisation courses.

Originally from the Phoenix area, Chris attended NAU as an undergraduate studying under late professor, Joel DiBartolo. While in Arizona he worked with many of the state’s great jazz artists including Chuck Mahronic, Fred Forney, Dom Moio, and others along with holding a position in the Flagstaff Symphony. While an undergraduate, he was awarded full scholarships to attend summer programs at the Berklee School of Music, the Skidmore Jazz Institute, and the Henry Mancini Institute.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Chris received scholarships from both classical and jazz departments to attend the Manhattan School of Music in NYC. He Studied with New York Philharmonic bassists Orin O’Brien and David Grossman as well as Metropolitan Opera Orchestra members Tim Cobb and Jeremy McCoy, and graduated with his Master of Music degree in 2008.

Once finished with his studies at MSM, Chris was in demand as a freelancer in New York in both the jazz and classical realms. Orchestral positions include the Chamber Orchestra of New York, Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, Allentown Symphony Orchestra (PA), Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra (PA), the Binghamton Philharmonic (NY), and Principal Bass of the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra (NY). He worked with renowned conductors such as Kurt Masur, Sydney Harth, Pinchas Zukerman, Raymond Leopard, and others. In 2008, he also became a member of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas under the direction of Alondra de la Parra. It was with that orchestra that Chris performed at the 2008 Latin Grammy Awards, toured Mexico multiple times including performances at the 2010 Bicentennial Celebration, and recorded 2 critically acclaimed albums for Sony Classical.

While maintaining a busy schedule as an orchestral musician, Chris has also performed with jazz greats such as Doc Severinsen, Roy Hargrove, Dave Douglas, Dave Liebman, Benito Gonzales, Dave Gruisin, John Tchicai, Flora Purim, Jimmy Cobb, and many others. Performance venues include Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, the Blue Note, the Jazz Standard, and the Telluride Jazz Festival.

Chris is currently on faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp(MI) during summers as well as Principal Bass and bass instructor at the Endless Mountain Music Festival(PA), along with Assistant Principal Bass at the Music Festival of the Americas at Stowe, VT. He has presented masterclasses at California State University Fresno, Arizona State University, and Mannes College The New School for Music(NYC) among others.