Christopher Chaffee, D.M.A.

Associate Professor, Flute
Faculty Woodwind Quintet, flute
Director of Graduate Studies (Music)
M371 Creative Arts Center
(937) 775-2132
christopher.chaffee@wright.edu

Christopher Chaffee is Associate Professor of Flute and Director of Graduate Studies in Music at Wright State University. His playing as been hailed as “Truly exceptional,” (Don Vroon, Editor, American Record Guide) “Brilliant,” (Middletown Journal) and “Sparkling.” (Richmond Palladium-Item) At WSU, he teaches flute, chamber music, and global music. He is a frequent guest artist and clinician at high schools and universities across the United States. Dr. Chaffee’s students have recently earned prizes in the Central Ohio Flute Association, National Flute Association, and Clark Haines Memorial competitions. Before joining the faculty at WSU in 2004, he taught at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Xavier University, and Miami University.  Dr. Chaffee is the Artistic Director and founder of the Sapphire Winds, a wind chamber ensemble that tours the USA several times a year. He served as Co-Principal and solo flutist with Sorg Opera (1997-2005), co-principal flute of the Heidelberg Schlossfestspiel Orchestra, and has performed with the ARC contemporary ensemble, Ensemble Sirius, Lansing Symphony, Jackson Symphony, Grand Traverse Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, Dayton Bach Society, Kentucky Symphony, and Dayton Philharmonic. Dr. Chaffee is also a widely respected music writer with hundreds of reviews published in American Record Guide, and is the author of widely popular program notes for the Dayton Philharmonic.

Dr. Chaffee is an honors graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, where he was a four-year scholarship student. He received his BM from Eastman School of Music, MM from Michigan State University, and DMA from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.  His teachers and mentors are Bonita Boyd, Richard Sherman, Bradley Garner, and Jack Wellbaum.