Music: Chris Bruya

Chris Bruya began teaching at CWU in 2002, after spending 7 years at Mt. Hood Community College (Oregon) in administrative and teaching roles. As Director of Jazz Studies at Central, he directs the Jazz Band I, which tied for first place at the 2003 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. He also coaches jazz combos, and teaches jazz, music theory and music education courses.

Prior to his post at MHCC he taught at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, for 4 years. Mr. Bruya has taught high school in Washington state and for 5 years at McMinville High School (Oregon), where his jazz bands consistently placed at numerous jazz festivals throughout the Northwest, including Sweepstakes two years in a row at Clackamas Community College.

Chris Bruya has directed the Oregon All-State Jazz Band, Salem All-City Jazz Band, the Central Oregon Honor Jazz Band, and has been Organizing Chair for the All-NW Jazz Band and Choir as well as the Oregon All State Jazz Groups. He is past director of the Jazz On The Water Instrumental Workshop. In 1997 the Mt. Hood Jazz Band performed at the International Association of Jazz Educators Convention in Chicago, placed first for four years straight at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, & placed first at the Reno Jazz Festival in 1998. While at MHCC, his band recorded 4 highly regarded CD's.