Chris Simpson

Chris Simpson is a Performing Arts Teacher at River Place Elementary in LISD and is the Principal Horn Player in Austin Civic Orchestra and Cedar Park Winds. She attended CSU, Fresno where she studied under Dr. Thomas Hiebert and Dr. James Winter. While at CSU, Fresno she had the opportunity to perform in many different styles of ensembles; Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Brass Band, The Presidents Woodwind Quintet, University Brass Quintet, Jazz Band and many more under the direction of Dr. Larry Sutherland and Dr. Ritchie Clendenin. After completing her BA in Horn Performance, she continued at CSU, Fresno and completed her MA in Horn Performance. While in Fresno, she played with the Fresno Philharmonic as the Assistant Horn and later won the third horn position. As a member of the Wind Ensemble, Chris performed in Carnegie Hall in 1996 and was a featured soloist with the Wind Ensemble in 1997, playing the Gliere Horn Concerto. The University Brass Quintet competed in many competitions across the US and did a brief tour in the Leeds area of England.

Chris continued her education at the University of Texas, Austin. While there, she studied under Wayne Barrington, performed in the many ensembles at UT, including the UT Wind Ensemble, Orchestra and Chamber Music group and was the TA for the Horn Studio from 1999-2001. While at UT, she also played 3rd horn with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra for 6 years, Assistant horn with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and was a frequent sub with the Corpus Christi Orchestra. After her studies at UT, she pursued her joy of teaching others how to play horn and had a large studio in the Cedar Park/Leander area schools. Chris was the soloist winner for ACO in the 2018-19 season and performed the Gliere Horn Concerto with the Orchestra.

Chris now spends her time playing in volunteer groups like ACO and Cedar Park Winds, and with her children in college, now has the flexibility to perform as a sub with Austin Brass Collective and other Central Texas groups. With a family full of brass players, they often play ensembles together especially around Christmas time, sharing music with people at Retirement Centers. One of the things Chris loves best about being the Performing Arts Teacher at River Place Elementary is getting to teaching students how to have a life time appreciation for the performing arts and allowing her time to share her own craft of performing.