Christopher Sakowski (b. 1978) completed his Master of Arts in Band Conducting from the American Band College of Sam Houston State University in Ashland, Oregon and received his Bachelor of Music Education from The University of Memphis. As a percussionist at the University of Memphis, Chris was a winner of the Concerto Competition and was the percussion arranger for The Mighty Sound of the South Drum Line. Chris has over two decades of experience in the marching arts, having taught at various drum corps and WGI percussion ensembles, including The Bluecoats, The Crossmen, The Colts, Gateway Indoor Percussion, and The Cavaliers, where he assisted in winning the Fred Sanford Award for Best Percussion at DCI World Championships in 2011. 

  

Chris is a sought after adjudicator, and has also led workshops as a clinician at several universities, and in Great Britain. He has composed music for ensembles all over the U.S. and abroad, including numerous high schools, colleges, drum & bugle corps, percussion ensembles, and the NFL's St. Louis Rams. He was honored to write a piece for the University of Memphis Percussion Ensemble that was premiered as part of the 100th anniversary of The University of Memphis in 2012. Chris currently lives in the St. Louis, MO area with his wife and two daughters. As a National Board Certified Teacher, he has taught string orchestra and band in the Rockwood School District since 2007 and is proud to be an Innovative Percussion Educational Artist.