Teacher Biography

Christopher A. Pinkston

Mr. Pinkston began studying the violin with Peter Haug in 1972 at age 9 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His famiy eventually moved Oklahoma City where he participated in junior and senior high orchestra in the Putnam City School District. He attended college at Central State University in Edmond, OK (now known as UCO), studying violin under Dr. Roger W. Strong, who was a student of the once world-renowned violinist, Eudice Shapiro, at UCLA. He performed his teacher internship in Putnam City Schools and he graduated cum laude in 1986 receiving a Bachelor Degree in music education.

While in college, Mr. Pinkston served as assistant to the music director at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in OKC where he filled in as conductor of the choir and orchestra on occasion. He also transposed and arranged music, set up sound equipment for services, and rehearsed young string players who were members of the church orchestra.

In January of 1991, Mr. Pinkston began working in Fort Smith Public Schools as a substitute teacher and a home-bound student instructor. He began his orchestra teaching position for Fort Smith Schools in August of 1992, teaching the entire school year as a long term substitute, and then being formally hired beginning the 1993-94 school year. Mr. Pinkston has been a member of the first violin section of the Fort Smith Symphony since 1991, and has served in the Fort Smith Symphony String Quartet and the Classic String Quartet. He maintains a private lesson studio of students ranging from teens through adults. For several years he served on staff at the UAFS summer Jazz String Camp. He also has composed music, some of which has been performed by his junior high students.

He and his wife Tia attend Saints George and Alexandra Orthodox Christian Church in Fort Smith where he has serves on the Parish Council.

Mr. Pinkston and his wife, Tia, live on a beautiful forested hillside North of Roland, OK where they enjoy landscaping, gardening and tending to their flock of chickens. They have two grown children, and two grandchildren.