Corey Christiansen

Widely heralded as a gifted young player with a passionate sound, jazz guitarist Corey Christiansen took up the instrument at the age of five. Corey earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Utah State and a master’s degree in jazz performance from the University of South Florida. Corey maintains a very active international teaching and playing career. Corey first started coming to the Hampton Festival in 1995 and 1996 when he won back-to-back “Best Jazz Guitar Soloist” and “Best Big Band Guitarist.” Corey served as senior editor for Mel Bay Publications from 2000 to 2007 and has written or co-written more than 70 books for the company. As well as maintaining an active international performance and touring schedule, he currently is teaching full time at Utah State University and is a visiting professor at Indiana University. He also has been an artist in residence at the Atlanta Institute of Music since 2007. Corey Christiansen has a number of publications with Mel Bay and has conducted countless guitar clinics and concerts across the country and beyond. He has also performed and/or recorded with many outstanding jazz artists including Jimmy Bruno, John Pisano, James Moody, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Ralph Bowen, Jamey Aebersold, Pat Harbison, Steve Houghton, Joe Negri, Willie Akins, Chuck Redd, Sid Jacobs, Jack Wilkins, Christian McBride, George Duke, Terri Lyne Carrington, Danny Gottlieb and many, many others.