Chris Van Hof
Chris Van Hof is the Associate Professor of Trombone at Ball State University. He also is the Assistant Manager of the International Trombone Festival. Chris is a Performing Artist for S. E. Shires Custom Brass Instruments.
As a freelance performer, Chris is fluent in a variety of musical vernaculars. He is a regular substitute/extra trombonist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, performing as guest principal, assistant principal, and second trombone. He performs as Principal trombone in the Carmel (IN) Symphony Orchestra. He is a regular performer with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. Other recent engagements include Los Adolescentes Orquesta (salsa), Son del Caribe, Naptown Trombone Collective, recording studios in Indianapolis, and various one-off engagements throughout Indiana and Michigan.
As a soloist, Chris was recently featured at Trombonanza 2023 in Santa Fe, Argentina where he performed as soloist with Camerata Eluetheria and in solo recital. Conversant in Spanish, he has additionally performed and taught at a number of events throughout South America besides Trombonanza, including UruBrass (Uruguay), Taller de Trombones (Panama), and La Escuela de Música de Pérez-Zeledon (Costa Rica). His trombone duo Make More Noise (along with bass trombonist Evan Conroy of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra) recently performed a full recital of their material at the 2021 International Trombone Festival in Columbus, GA.
The Trombone Studio at Ball State has emerged as a vibrant place for trombone study during Chris’ tenure, which began in 2017. The studio celebrates its history as the first-ever Remington Competition winner by focusing on excellence in trombone choir performance in both on and off-campus concerts. The Cardinal Trombone Choir has performed at the 2018, 2019, and 2022 International Trombone Festivals. Ball State trombone alumni are leading educators throughout the state of Indiana, have pursued graduate performance study at the University of Michigan, the University of Minnesota, and Western Michigan University, and are members of the United Stated Marine Corps music program.
Chris studied at Western Michigan University with Steve Wolfinbarger for his Bachelor’s, at the Eastman School of Music with Mark Kellogg for his Master’s, and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with Mark Hetzler for his Doctorate. He is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and now lives in Indianapolis with his wife Andrea and their two boys Dexter and Fritz. He enjoys cooking, biking, and being outdoors.
