Christian Jaudes 1959-2024 | In Memoriam

October 9, 1959-February 11, 2024

Christian “Chris” Jaudes, who taught jazz trumpet at Juilliard from 2005 until he retired in 2022, died February 11 at his home in Maplewood, New Jersey, surrounded by family. In an email to the Juilliard Jazz community, Aaron Flagg (BM ’92, MM ’93, trumpet), chair and associate director, wrote that Jaudes “helped shape the lives and musical careers of countless students, and he was always dedicated to ensuring students had a solid physical foundation on the trumpet to support their unique musical creativity.”

Born October 9, 1959, and raised in St. Louis, Jaudes was known professionally as a lead trumpet player. He performed with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Salvation Army Bands, and Brass Band of Battle Creek, and he toured the world with Paul Anka. Other artists he worked with include Bob Hope, B.B. King, Ray Charles, Shania Twain, Barry Manilow, Idina Menzel, and Celine Dion. He performed in numerous Broadway shows including Ragtime and Sunset Blvd as well as on the Grammy-winning cast albums of Gypsy and Annie Get Your Gun. Jaudes started his collegiate teaching career at his alma mater, Illinois State University, in 1980, and he had been on the faculties of Hofstra University, Long Island University, and the New School University before coming to Juilliard. He was predeceased by his wife, Carol.

“Chris was always a wonderful and warm colleague: a true gentleman, a professional, and 100 percent student-focused as a teacher,” Flagg wrote. “His generosity saw him lending his instruments to students, recommending them for professional playing opportunities, and encouraging them long after graduation in the love and respect of the instrument.”

Teaching by Example

By Joe Boga
Chris believed in teaching by example, and he would take every chance he could get to play with and for his students. He even joined as the original lead trumpet in Kyle Athayde’s (BM ’11, jazz studies) band, for $13.42 a night at the Garage Restaurant in Soho, just to play with three of his students—me, Mat Jodrell (Artist Diploma ’10, MM ’12, jazz studies), and Kyle—and show us how it’s done.

Over the last few years, I was fortunate to play every Christmas and Easter at Chris’ church with him. I would travel out to Maplewood and stay over at his house the night before to make sure we could be there on time (often over an hour before anyone else got there). Last year, he found out he had to go into the hospital for emergency heart surgery the night before Easter and called me worried, not for his own health, but about me being able to find a sub for the gig! He was the ultimate professional even when faced with his own mortality, a born leader, a dedicated musician, and one of the most generous teachers a student could ever ask for. I’m so grateful for everything he has done for me.

Knowing Chris, he’s in heaven right now enthusiastically trying to teach Gabriel (and maybe the four horsemen?) how to play the loudest and easiest double high C anyone has ever heard. I will miss hearing the sound of his voice, and the brilliance of his trumpet, but I’ll carry his memory with me for the rest of my life.

Joseph Boga (BM ’14, jazz studies) is a performer, composer, producer, arranger, and educator