Kris Chesky
Texas Center for Music & Medicine
/ (940) 565-4126
Kris Chesky holds degrees from the Berklee College of Music and the University of North Texas. After completing his undergraduate degree in trumpet/jazz studies, he worked as a bandleader and sideman. During graduate studies at UNT, Dr. Chesky studied music therapy with TWU Professor Donald Michel while working for a psychiatric in-patient hospital in Fort Worth. After completing his doctorate, he conducted research on the pain-relieving effects of music vibration at the UNT Health Sciences Center, UT-San Antonio and at Cook Children’s Hospital of Fort Worth.
Dr Chesky is currently Associate Professor within the UNT College of Music and Director of the Texas Center of Music & Medicine. He oversees and teaches courses in music medicine including an undergraduate course titled “Occupational Health: Lessons for Music”. Dr. Chesky is Executive Director of the Health Promotion in Schools of Music project (www.unt.edu/hpsm) and holds leadership positions in the Performing Arts Medicine Association (www.artsmed.org) and the National Hearing Conservation Association (www.hearingconservation.org).
Dr. Chesky has received research grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Grammy Foundation, NAMM, IFMR, the Scott Foundation, and others to study health issues related to learning and performing music. He has published scientific research articles in the areas of epidemiology, biomechanics, audiology, and mental health. Dr. Chesky has participated in many conferences over the past 15 years including some in Canada, England, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Scotland, and throughout the US.
Early in his career as a fulltime musician, Dr. Chesky performed with the house bands of the SS Norway, Homestead in Hot Springs Virginia, Miami Theatre of Performing Arts, Fontainebleau Hotel – South Beach, Word of Faith Church in Dallas, and numerous local dance bands in the Boston, Miami and Dallas areas. He has performed with the Fifth Dimension, Jack Jones, Shields and Yarnell, Vic Damone, Jim Nabors, Gatlin Brothers, Shirley Jones, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims, and other national acts. Currently, he performs with the Mesquite Repertory Arts Ensemble and the Pecos River Brass.
