A little bit about me…
Christopher (they/them, he/him) is a versatile harpist and musician from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Beginning their musical journey at age three under Anita Leschied, Christopher has mastered various instruments and collaborated with numerous ensembles. By the time they graduated from Vincent Massey Secondary School in 2016, they had already worked with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra as a featured solo vocalist, served as the principal harpist for the Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra, directed music for the Arts Collective Theatre, and helped launch the Windsor West Indian Association's Promising Youth Scholarship.
Christopher pursued a Bachelor of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University, studying with Lori Gemmell and Sharlene Wallace. Throughout their four years at Laurier, they expanded their knowledge of classical and contemporary music, modern harp techniques, and collaborated with talents like the Waterloo Chamber Orchestra, FUSE Opera Company, Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, and Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra. Christopher premiered five pieces for flute and harp through the Wilfrid Laurier Association of Music Creators Composer Concert Series, marking the beginning of their passion for new music and experimental theatre.
Photo by Carla Ng
Tuxedo: Diving Bell 2 by Hannah Kendall
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Premiered at the Milton Court Concert Hall, London, UK
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Tuxedo: Diving Bell 2 by Hannah Kendall | Premiered at the Milton Court Concert Hall, London, UK |
Continuing their education, Christopher earned a Master of Performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) in London, UK, studying under Charlotte Seale, Imogen Barford, and Keziah Thomas. At GSMD, they delved deeper into contemporary harp repertoire and collaborated with diverse artists. Notably, Christopher premiered Hannah Kendall’s Tuxedo: Diving Bell 2 for solo harp at Milton Court Concert Hall. They also participated in projects like OperaMakers, Wigmore Hall VoiceWorks, and the London Symphony Orchestra/Orchestral Artistry Composers Programme, which are designed to bring new composers’ works to life with professional guidance.
Christopher's time in the UK was marked by significant performances and collaborations. They were a featured artist in the BBC Radio 3 Total Immersion series, celebrating the works of the late Kaija Saariaho. They began working with rare-instrumentalist Joseph Fraser, commissioning new works for rare instruments. This collaboration led to their debut performance at the Future Strategies Club, featuring installations for theremin, electric harp, and electronics.
In 2024, Christopher made their West End debut with the Sam Shepard plays Savage/Love and Tongues, devising the music for the production alongside guitarist Juan Carlos and performing as one of four featured artists. They were also a featured artist at the annual Lichfield Arts Festival.
Currently, Christopher holds a position as a Junior Fellow with the Guildhall School, where they continue to explore and innovate within the realm of contemporary and experimental music.