Zachary Y Chyr

bassist / vocalist / arranger / composer

Based in Christchurch, Zachary Chyr is an astute, flexible musician at heart, actively taking part in the local scene.

With a unique style derived from classical, jazz, and R&B influences, Zachary dedicates his work to bring a new angle on music in this day and age.

Beginning at a young age and moving from one instrument to another, Zachary began on guitar before branching out. He is also self-taught on mandolin, ukulele and trombone. Now having played music for several years, he has delved into a variety of other genres from choral singing to musical theatre, and also more contemporary music, often taking part in competitions such as the NZCF Big Sing, Ara (CPIT) JazzQuest, and the SmokeFree RockQuest through secondary school and other extra-curricular activities.

Zachary has gained a definitive amount of experience in performing as he strives to be a committed member of the handful of ensembles he takes part in. He has been involved with several different settings such as accompanying choirs, playing in larger bands, and playing in some smaller combos, most notably as the bassist in The Fairweather Trio; an interplay focused piano trio inspired by the works of Bill Evans.

Currently, Zachary is in his final year of study at Ara Institute of Canterbury (previously CPIT), with a Bachelor of Music Arts. He hopes this will give him a better footing in the larger world of music.

Outside of study, Zachary is a regular at local jazz jams, playing at venues such as Pomeroy’s Old Brewery Inn and Dux Central. He has also been a member of the Christchurch Youth Orchestra (CYO), and strives to maintain his abilities in playing and performing classical music.

Alongside this, Zachary actively writes, composes and arranges in his own time. He also works towards playing more gigs and performing around Christchurch with his trio.