A native of Washington, DC, Yusef Chisholm is one of the most innovative and stylistic bassists in traditional and contemporary music. Yusef, born to the late Mr. and Mrs. John C. and Annie Mae Chisholm, began playing music at Shaw Junior High School and was Tuba Section Leader of the Cardozo Senior High School Marching Band. He pursued his passion for music, attending the University of the District of Columbia where he majored in Music Education and minored in Fine Arts. After receiving his BA and Associates degrees in 1988, Yusef began teaching in the District of Columbia Public Schools System as an lnstrumental Music lnstructor. He instilled musical knowledge to youth at Ballou Senior High, Anacostia Senior High, and Kramer Middle Schools. While at Anacostia Senior High, Mr. Chisholm formed the Anacostia Senior High School Marching and Jazz Bands. He also formed the Combined Conced Band incorporating both Anacostia and Kramer schools. His band program was notably recognized in the community, receiving many performance accolades under his direction: First Place awards in the St. Patrick's Day Parade and Martin Luther King, Jr. Festival; Second Place in the North Carolina Azalea Festival. Additionally, they participated in numerous college homecoming parades and festivals (Washington's Main Street Millennium, Community May Day Parade, and Annual Chinese New Year Parade). Yusef currently is the lnstrumental Music Teacher at Hardy Middle School where he has formed the Hardy Middle School Concert, Jazz and Marching Bands. His band participates in the East Coast Jazz Festival and DC Public School related events. He recently showcased his Jazz Band at the Superintendent's Breakfast for DC Public School Principals. Yusef Chisholm has added his musical talents to local non-profit groups such as the DC Youth Ensemble and the Diamond Girls Jazz Band. ln 1995, Yusef formed Common Knowledge, a contemporary jazz ensemble. His studio (of same name) has provided a venue for local musicians to record their projects. He has been a member of Collaboration, a Washingtonbased lazz group of music educators since 1986. The group has performed for many noteworthy events such as the 53rd and 54th Presidential lnaugural Balls of President William J. Clinton and President George W. Bush; Walt Disney World/Pleasure lsland's Jazz Company, The Capital Jazz Fest, The Annual Day of Caring - United Way Campaign, and a Gala for Prince George's County Delegate Obie Patterson. The band was featured in The Washinqton Post as a premiere Metropolitan jazz band. Yusef has also performed at The John F. Kennedy Center, Constitution Hall, The Warner Theater, The Lincoln Theater, BET's Jazz Central, The Studio Theater, The Houston Arena, The MCI Center (Grand Opening), The Ghana Jazz Festival, The Smooth Jazz Bahamas Jazz Festival, and a host of other venues across the world. He participated in the Thomas W. Jones' production of SLAM!, under the musical dlrection of William Knowles. Other musicals where he showcased his talents were Three Sisfahs, Pippin, All Night Strut, Tambourines to Glory, Once on This lsland, Dinah Was - The Dinah Washington Story, All Around the World, Two Queens - One Castle, Ellington - The Life and Music of the Duke, King of Cool- The Nat Kng Cole Story, A Mark Twain Murder Mystery, Bricktop, and Cookin' at the Cookery - The Music and Times of Albefta Hunter. Yusef's extensive live performance credits also include participation in the Tribute to Dick Gregory.