From bass to Bodh Gaya: Chris Koelma

When it comes to playing bass guitar, Chris Koelma is the man but he hasn’t let this distract him from being God’s man.

Chris’s playing style is a mixture of strums, picks, taps and slaps.

Few people can orchestrate such a complete performance on one instrument. Where there is just Chris and his bass guitar, the combination of sounds he creates makes it seem like a small band is playing.

You’d think this curly-haired talent from Terrigal, New South Wales, began playing bass before being able to crawl. But music did not form a big part of Chris’s childhood.

“My grandfather and my dad are musicians, so there was always music playing around the house,”

says Chris. “But I was never into music when I was younger.”

That’s because Chris played soccer—and played it well. Only after suffering an injury that resulted in a knee reconstruction did he begin playing bass guitar.

“I had lots of time and energy to spare, so I transferred it all into playing bass. I would practice up to six hours a day.”

Initially, Chris felt noncommittal about turning his love of music into a career but he soon realised the need to study music—a decision that led him to Avondale College.

“Mum went to a careers expo as part of her work,” says Chris. “She came home with a flyer that read, ‘Want to study music and teaching? Then come to Avondale College.’ I’d never heard of the place but two weeks later, I enrolled.”

Study at Avondale and words of encouragement from friends soon prompted Chris to record his first album. The self-titled CD proved successful but not in the usual terms. With each sale, Chris donated money to support a mission project at the AoZora School for poor and orphaned children in Bodh Gaya, India. Proceeds from sales and other sources have helped three groups of Avondale teaching students visit the school. “I decided to do this because I believe music has the power to change things on a universal level,” says Chris. “This is one way of doing so.”

Having graduated from Avondale in 2008, Chris now lives in Los Angeles, playing bass guitar for a band called St Leonards. A Grammy Award-winner is producing the band’s new album and Chris has another solo album planned. But don’t think the city is corrupting Chris. He is unwavering in his dedication to serve God and others.

“I’m keen to explore the music of cultures from all over the world and to keep being open to God’s leading as I interact with music,” says Chris. “No matter where I am, I know God is there, so that is where I want to be!”