An active performing artist, Christopher Hayes has appeared at national and international events including the Newport Music Festival, Music Educators National Conference, International Trombone Association conference, and the International Trumpet Guild conference. He has performed and/or presented master classes at Indiana University, University of Louisville, University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and Western Michigan University. Hayes is principal trombonist with the Ohio Valley Symphony and, as a member of the Ohio University School of Music faculty brass quintet "OhioBrass", he has performed throughout the region, including appearances at the Music Teachers National Association conference and Ohio Music Educators conference.

In demand as a clinician and adjudicator, Hayes' affiliations include serving as educational clinician for United Musical Instruments. He has presented research at the 1996 and 1998 Music Educators National Conferences, and for the 1999 College Band Directors National Conference.

Prior to his appointment at Ohio University in 2000, Hayes held similar teaching positions at Eastern Kentucky University and Murray State University. Dr. Hayes completed his undergraduate study at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY and at the University of Louisville, completing the BM in trombone performance and BME in music education. He earned the MM in trombone from the University of Louisville and completed his Ph.D in music education at the University of Missouri.