Chris Branam is the founder and director of TrueNote Bands.

Chris and his wife Jane met in band class and were high school sweethearts. They have two wonderful children, William and Christina, and live in Cary. They attend Forest Hills Baptist Church in Raleigh where he is the conductor/director of the Forest Hills Baptist Church Orchestra.

He attended Campbell University as an A.J. Fletcher Scholar and received his Bachelor of Music Education (1992) while studying with composer/conductor Dr. Jack Stamp. He is currently working on his Masters in Music at Southern Oregon University.

Chris served as the Drum Major for D.C.I. Finalist, 27th Lancers Drum and Bugle Corp. Chris studied with conductor Frank Battisti at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.

Chris has been an active visual/musical coordinator, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the region. He has conducted the NC State Baptist Instrumental Orchestra at Fort Caswell, North Carolina and has been a guest conductor for numerous honor bands in North Carolina.

Chris is the former Director of Bands at Sanderson High School where he instructed all ensembles to become one of the states finest performing bands in all genres; classical, 20th century wind band literature, jazz and marching band. He was also the director of the award winning Durant Road Middle School Band. While there, he and Sallee Nelson built a year-round band program of over 500 students. Mr. Branam was also the director of bands at Garner Senior High, and Louisburg High Schools.

For more information on Chris' educational philosophy, click here.

Recognition and Awards

Chris Branam was featured in the December 2002 issue of the SBO Magazine as the North Carolina representative of the "50 Directors Who Make A Difference". He was also selected the "Band Director of The Year" by the Central District Bandmasters Association for the 2001-2002 school year. Ensembles under his direction have consistently received superior ratings at music fes