Chris Creswell is an accomplished trombonist, composer, visual designer and educator currently living in his hometown of Jacksonville, FL. Chris has enjoyed the privilege of performing and recording with many of today’s top pop and jazz artist including Mariah Carey, John Pizzarelli, Maceo Parker, Tom Kubis, Arturo Sandoval, and many more.
In 2001 while living in Los Angeles, CA Chris started writing marching band drill design, custom arrangements, and original compositions for high school and college bands across the United States. The business took it’s formal name “Chris Creswell Music and Design” after his move back to Florida in 2005. Chris is a past staff designer for Marching Show Concepts and currently designs for Creative Solutions.
As well as writing and performing, Chris has directed bands at The Orange County High School of the Arts in Santa Ana, CA (2000 – 2005), his Alma Mater Orange Park High School in Orange Park, FL (2005 – 2008) and Fleming Island High School in Fleming Island, FL (2009 – 2012). In 2012 Chris began serving as Artist in Residence and Director of Athletic Bands at Jacksonville University. He was named Director of Bands at Jacksonville University in Fall of 2020.
Chris still remains active as a trombonist in the southeastern music scene performing at festivals, corporate events, and with various jazz and chamber ensembles. He has also composed numerous original compositions and arrangements for jazz ensemble including a commission for the 2008 Jacksonville Jazz Festival, and arrangements published by Jalen Jazz.
Chris is a graduate of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville and The Manhattan School of Music in New York City where he received his BM and MM degrees respectively in trombone performance and jazz studies. Chris is currently ABD earning a DMA in Music Education at Boston University studying social identity theories and their effect on band director motivation and group-identity. Chris is an alumni of the Disney All American College Band, The Epcot Grammy Collegiate Jazz Ensemble, and The Henry Mancini Institute. Chris is a member of ASCAP, NAfME, CBDNA, and FMEA.