Chris Rivera studied as a percussion major at Western Connecticut State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education in 2002. In 2005 Chris earned a Master of Arts degree in Music Theory from the University of Connecticut where he was a graduate assistant teaching Honors Music Theory and Ear Training. He has performed with groups/artists such as Dave Samuels, Arthur Lipner, Janis Potter, Gordon Stout, Jeff Hellmer, Nebojsa Zivkovic, Leigh Howard Stevens, and the New Haven Symphony.
From 2002-2009 Chris was the percussion caption head and arranger at Trumbull High School (Trumbull, CT). The Trumbull Indoor Percussion Ensemble was an Open class finalist at WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio every year since 2006; and recently (2008 and 2009) the ensemble earned two back-to-back 2nd place silver medals.
Chris has written for and consulted with many area High School bands, College Ensembles, Theatres, and Drum Corps. He worked with the Connecticut Hurricanes as caption head and instructor and more recently with the Bushwhackers Drum and Bugle Corps where he was the front ensemble arranger and coordinator.
In 2010 Chris became the new band director at his alma mater, Norwalk High School in Norwalk, CT. His duties include supervising the marching band, 3 concert bands, 2 jazz ensembles, 2 winter guard, indoor percussion ensemble and the pit orchestra. The Norwalk indoor percussion ensemble was a WGI World Championships A class finalist in 2010 and an Open class finalist in 2011.
Chris has judged numerous marching bands, state and regional music festivals for CMEA, USSBA and MAC. From 2008-2009 he was member of the WGI Percussion Advisory Board and is currently an executive board member and percussion coordinator for the Musical Arts Conference (MAC).
Chris is an artist for Yamaha Marching Percussion and REMO drumheads as well as an education team member for Vic Firth.
