Prof. Profile: Chris Kiradjeff

Chris Kiradjeff is the assistant principle trumpet player in the Cincinnati Symphony as well as an adjunct professor of music at Xavier.

Xavier Newswire: What did you do before you started teaching at Xavier?

Chris Kiradjeff: I was born and raised in Cincinnati. I went to St. Xavier High School and then attended the College Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati for trumpet performance. I, then, went to the Cleveland Institute of Music for graduate school for one year before

I auditioned and was hired by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO). I have been playing there for about 10 years and started teaching at Xavier about six years ago.

XN: Do you teach anywhere else besides Xavier?

CK: I also teach at the School for the Creative and performing Arts (SCPA) with other members of the CSO, as well as Walnut Hills High School.

XN: What classes do you teacher at Xavier? CK: I teach trumpet lessons to music majors as well as other majors.

Also, I teach the brass techniques class for music education majors. This class requires the students to learn how to play all the brass instruments.

XN: Is there any reason why you particularly enjoy teaching at Xavier?

CK: I really enjoy the diversity of the students. I have a range

of students. I get to teach trumpet students who are capable of playing the highest level of repertoire which is great, but I also get to teach students who have never

touched an instrument before in their lives. You get to see their progression and them getting better and better and go from not being able to make a sound on the instrument

to playing pieces, songs, etudes and the like. I think teaching the "bare bones" beginner is just as gratifying as coaching the top talent. I think that is why I enjoy teaching the brass techniques class. Even though the students in my

class are all music majors, most are non-brass players, so they are learning for the first time. I am amazed at how good they become in a relatively short amount of time.

XN: You spend so much time doing music. Do you have any other hobbies or things that you enjoy doing?

CK: I enjoy playing golf. I've also taken some classes at the Art Academy. I'm a huge baseball fan and, being from Cincinnati, a big Reds fan... I hate the Cardinals.

XN: Is there anything that you'd like to say to the students at

Xavier?

CK: Practice hard and love what