Living in multiple musical dimensions, percussionist and composer CHRIS SIES seeks to bring visceral sonic experiences to audiences through his “virtuoso flair” (Detroit Free Press) and unique voice. Chris has composed, produced, and performed with a multitude of artists, collaborating in acts such as New Music Detroit, the National Arab Orchestra, Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble, My Brightest Diamond, the Detroit Bureau of Sound, Tatsuya Nakatani, Man Forever, ska-boundary-pushers Stacked Like Pancakes, the experimental rock outfit Sam Cooper & The Sleepwalkers, and the art rock/no wave duo Throwaway, among many others. He has performed extensively throughout North America in venues such as the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Harris Theatre, (le) poisson rouge, Constellation Chicago, Princeton University, the Detroit Institute for the Arts, along with performances on the Vans Warped Tour, Summer Slaughter Tour, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, the Bowling Green New Music Festival, New Music Gathering, and Detroit’s Strange Beautiful Music.

Sies makes his debut on New Amsterdam Records in 2019 as the percussionist and composer with the cross-continental new music ensemble, Latitude 49 on the release of their second album Wax and Wire. With an aim to combine elements of power electronics and death metal genres in his chamber music, Sies’ epic work for L49, these (were) used to harm, is a substantial feature on this release. Aside from his work with Latitude 49, Chris Sies is also a member of the Willo Collective, a percussion-heavy trio of composers dedicated to creating collaborative and interdisciplinary work with choreographers, visual artists, songwriters, and other creators. Chris also performs under the moniker S[K]IES - a solo project dedicated to what he calls “psychedelic noise-metal” through his relentless experiments with percussion and electronics.

Chris received his bachelor’s degree in music performance and dual master’s degrees in percussion performance and chamber music from the University of Michigan. His teachers and mentors include Amy Chavasse, Ian Ding, Joseph Gramley, Brian Jones, Jonathan Ovalle, Doug Perkins, Mike Ranelli, Stephen Rush, Jon Seligman, and Michael Udow. Chris has further developed his work through residencies and fellowships at the Banff Centre for Creativity, the Bang on A Can Summer Festival, the Avaloch Farm Music Institute, and the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall in addition to attending the Sō Percussion Summer Institute, and the Chosen Vale Summer Percussion Seminar.

Chris is currently based in Waco, Texas where he teaches percussion at Baylor University and lives with his wife and pianist Jani Parsons and their cat, Sanu.