Christian Birkness is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate. He holds a BM in Music Theory from Eastman (2018), where he graduated with highest distinction and was elected to the Pi Kappa Lambda musical honors society, and an MA in Music Theory from Eastman (2020). His research focuses on diminution theory and jazz improvisation.

Christian was a tubist in the studio of Don Harry during his undergraduate studies, and has collaborated with Tuba Mirum, Eastman’s Euphonium and Tuba ensemble, as a composer and arranger.

cbirknes@u.rochester.edu