Heather Chriscaden

Heather Chriscaden grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where her early influences included lessons with jazz greats Ray Brown and John Clayton. She received a BM in Double Bass Performance from WSU and was the first recipient of the University of Oregon’s Master of Music in Jazz Studies. She has performed various styles of music all over the world: jazz ensembles from Seattle to New York and Colombia to Japan; orchestra and chamber groups across the country; and klezmer performances from Krakow, Poland to Leonard Nimoy’s synagogue series in California.

As an educator, Heather has taught private lessons for ages 3-70, and was a tenured instructor of music theory and ear training at Edmonds Community College. She has been on the faculty of music camps around the country and was an assistant director for both the Frank DeMiero Jazz Camp in WA and the Stokes Forest Music Camp in NJ. She also taught low strings for the New York Pops Musical Mentors and was a rhythm section coach for the Grammy in the Schools Program.

Heather is thrilled to be reunited with the mountains, trees, people, and music of the PNW. Her newest passion is adding Suzuki double bass to her teaching repertoire. She currently teaches private lessons in North Bend, WA, Marysville, WA, Seattle, WA, and via Zoom.