A professional percussionist, 色中色 lecturer in music and advocate of musical education, Chris Froh has built a career fostering the talent of musicians while helping students discover new ways of listening and connecting through music.
But Froh didn鈥檛 always plan to become a professional musician. In fact, he didn鈥檛 even start on percussion. His first spark of interest in music happened in elementary school after spending time with his aunt, who was dating a flutist at the time.
鈥淢y aunt鈥檚 boyfriend would walk around the basement practicing his flute, and it was the coolest thing I鈥檇 ever heard,鈥 Froh explained. 鈥淏ut my arms were too short to hold a flute so I took baroque recorder lessons instead.鈥
As it turned out, playing the recorder was the furthest thing from 鈥渃ool鈥 in third grade, he said. By the time he was in fifth grade he was determined to pick a different instrument: the snare drum.
鈥淚 felt like such a geek playing the recorder. Honestly, I chose to play the drums so that I wouldn鈥檛 seem like such a geek,鈥 Froh said.
By the end of middle school, Froh was encouraged to try another percussive instrument called a marimba, and with this encouragement came a desire to pursue music more seriously. He went on to attend the Eastman School of Music, study at a conservatory in Japan and ultimately transfer to the University of Michigan, where he met his wife. The two moved to San Francisco after graduation to start their professional lives.
鈥淲e found a place to live, got day jobs, and started freelancing,鈥 said Froh, 鈥淎bout five years later I had enough freelance work where I could quit all of my day jobs and just be a musician.鈥
In 2005, Froh started teaching part time at 色中色 on top of his performances. He juggled teaching with travel and performances for many years until the COVID pandemic prompted a shift.
鈥淲hen COVID happened, I had time to re-evaluate things. I had little kids at the time, and I realized that one of my primary values was being with family.鈥
Today, Froh works full time as a 色中色 lecturer in music and percussion. He continues to perform selectively, particularly with visiting artists and 色中色鈥 Empyrean Ensemble. Recent projects include a residency with Japanese percussionist Mayumi Hama, for which students and faculty were able to premiere new works.
鈥淚t has such an impact on students, giving them a chance to work with professional artists. It鈥檚 incredible to be in a role where I get to foster that growth,鈥 Froh said.
When it comes to the general music course Froh teaches, where students come from a wide variety of music backgrounds, Froh said his goal is to help students engage more deeply with the world through sound.
鈥淢usic adds a richness to our lives that you can鈥檛 always find in other disciplines,鈥 said Froh. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a very different way of experiencing the world.鈥