Christian Dillingham, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, began his musical journey on the trumpet; he later switched to the electric bass, and eventually was led to the double bass. He studied at Youngstown State University under the instruction of Tony Leonardi and Micah Howard of the Pittsburgh Symphony, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Performance with an emphasis on Jazz. He continued his education at Duquesne University under the tutelage of Jeffrey Turner, principal bass of the Pittsburgh Symphony, receiving his master’s degree in Music Performance.
Other teachers include Jeffrey Grubbs (Pittsburgh Symphony), Peter Lloyd (The Colburn School), and Rob Kassinger (Chicago Symphony), Francois Rabbath, Larry Grenadier, Rufus Reid, and Mark Helias; he has also performed at master classes for Hal Robinson, John Clayton, James Van Demark, and Christian McBride. He has attended the National Repertory Orchestra Festival in Breckenridge, Colorado and also the School for Improvisational Music in New York.
After receiving the opportunity to play with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Mr. Dillingham found his way to Chicago, Illinois where he currently resides. He played with the Civic Orchestra for two seasons. Mr. Dillingham enjoys being versatile, performing in orchestral, chamber, and jazz settings regularly. He is presently a member of the Chicago Sinfonietta, New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago, and Camerata Chicago. He is a former member of the Kalamazoo Symphony, and has also performed with the Grant Park Symphony, Chicago Philharmonic, the International Chamber Artists, Fulcrum Point, and the New Philharmonic Orchestra. He has performed at the International Beethoven Festival for two seasons.
Mr. Dillingham has had the privilege to perform with various jazz artists including: Chris Potter, Robin Eubanks, Sean Jones, Take 6, Bobby Broom, Akira Tana, Stafford James String Ensemble, Ron Perillo, Dennis Luxion, Scott Hesse, Pharez Whitted; blues artists Lurrie Bell, Matthew Skoller, and Bill Sims; hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco; and gospel artists Three Mo Tenors and Smokey Norfol. Mr. Dillingham has also performed for the multi-award winning productions of Follies at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and Porgy and Bess at Court Theatre.