Christopher Hamlen

Christopher Hamlen joined the DSO in 2017 after serving as Principal Bass of the Grand Rapids Symphony for five seasons. Prior to moving to Michigan, he was a member of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra for two seasons. From 2006–2009, Hamlen was a fellow with the prestigious New World Symphony orchestral training academy in Miami Beach, Florida.

Hamlen received a Graduate Performance Diploma studying with Robert Kesselman and a Bachelor of Music studying with John Hood from the Peabody Conservatory. As a young bassist, Hamlen served as Principal Bass for numerous regional, state, and national youth orchestras, including the Music Educators National Conference All-Eastern States Honors Orchestra and later the Peabody Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of the prestigious New York String Orchestra Seminar in 2003. In 2000, Hamlen performed the Koussevitzky Concerto with the Reading Symphony Orchestra, of which he later became a full-time member.

When he’s not playing his bass, Hamlen can be found with his family including his daughter Claire, his wife Melissa, and their Wheaten Terrier Penny.