Percussionist and Timpanist Christopher Whyte hails from Portland, Oregon. He has recently achieved ABD status, and is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance from Boston University, where he is a student of Boston Symphony Principal Timpanist Timothy Genis. While in Boston, Whyte performed as a freelance percussionist and timpanist with ALEA III contempory music ensemble, the Atlantic Symphony, the New Bedford Symphony, and the Boston Civic Symphony, appearing in concert with singer Steven Tyler, among others. The Boston Musical Intelligencer called Whyte’s playing “a striking diversity of styles and spirit.” He also performed regularly with the University Symphony Orchestra, and served as a featured soloist and conductor with the Boston University Percussion Ensemble.

Whyte stays active as a freelance performer, recitalist, and clinician on both coasts. He also earned degrees at the University of Oregon as a student of the late Charles Dowd. While at the University of Oregon, Whyte won the 2006 University of Oregon Concerto Competition, was a featured soloist with the symphony orchestra and percussion ensembles, and served as principal timpanist and principal percussionist with the symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, The Oregon Percussion Ensemble, and The Praxis Marimba Quartet. In addition, he performed with a number of professional orchestras and chamber music groups in the Northwest region.

Whyte has works published through Tapspace, MSC, Matrix, and Bachovich publishing companies, and can be heard on forthcoming recordings from the Soundspells New York label. With an extensive background in rudimental drumming, Chris has performed with the Cascades, Bluecoats, and Blue Devils drum corps, and has arranged and taught for the Oregon Crusaders, Cascades and Madison Scouts. He is active as a percussion arranger for a number of high school percussion programs, as well as the Boston University Marching Band, and the 2010 WGI Finalist Boston University Winter Percussion Ensemble. In addition, he is in demand as a clinician, and consultant throughout the United States. Chris proudly endorses Dynasty Drums, Pro-Mark Drumsticks, and Remo Drumheads.

Chris recently relocated to Portland, Oregon where he is active as a freelance musician and percussion teacher.