“Ushers the violin into fresh sonic territory.”
Chris Baum is a Grammy-nominated violinist, composer, orchestrator, educator, and recording artist whose work “ushers the violin into fresh sonic territory” (NPR). A pioneer of modern string technique and an accomplished improviser, he is celebrated for his versatility, seamlessly adapting his playing to ensembles and genres often considered unconventional for the instrument. Critics have described his artistry as “viciously talented… teemed with color and creativity” (The Boston Globe) and capable of expressing “everything from pure beauty to nightmarish howls” (BestNewBands).
Trained in a rigorous classical environment, Baum expanded his musical vocabulary at Berklee College of Music, graduating with honors in film scoring and composition. He has performed worldwide, from Boston’s Symphony Hall to Tokyo’s Hitomi Memorial Hall and Beijing’s Workers Arena, and has collaborated with artists including Leprous, The Dear Hunter, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Ihsahn, Jherek Bischoff, TWIABP, Ben Levin, ShoutHouse, Amanda Palmer, Robbie Fitzsimmons, ICEBERG, The 8-Bit Big Band, Harmonix, Courtney Swain, Mantra Percussion, Output, Square Enix, Dropkick Murphys, Hanson, Richard Henshall, and poet laureate Regie Gibson.
Currently, Baum creates music with Bent Knee, tours with Einar Solberg and the Guy Mendilow Ensemble, and performs as a soloist for the Video Game Orchestra. Based in Gloucester, MA, he maintains a select teaching studio, mentoring private students in violin and composition.
“Viciously talented... teemed with color and creativity.”