Violin & Viola Lessons

Welcome

My name is Chris. I am a professional violist and educator who offers private and group violin and viola music lessons in Littleton, CO.

My Life as a Musician:

I am:

The Executive Director of the Lakewood Symphony
The Principal Violist of the Jefferson Symphony
The Assistant Principal Violist of the Lakewood Symphony
A Section Violist for the Symphony of the Rockies (formerly known as the Arapahoe Philharmonic)
Regularly hired as a sub in other local orchestras
The sectional coach at Bear Creek High School, Heritage High School, and Dunstan Middle School
Available for subbing, chamber music, weddings, and events

How I Started

In 6th grade, I joined my school orchestra and started playing viola. Many accomplished musicians began their careers this way!

After years of study, private lessons, practice, youth orchestras, and auditions, I attended the University of Northern Colorado on a full music scholarship.

There, I studied viola performance with Dr. Juliet White-Smith.

In 2023, I started studying again, this time with Basil Vendrys, the Principal violist of the Colorado Symphony and Professor of Viola at the Lamont School of Music (DU).

For over 17 years, I've maintained a busy private studio of up to 40 violin and viola students. Many have been accepted to the Jeffco All-County Orchestra, Colorado All-State Orchestra, Western States Honor Orchestra, Denver Young Artists Orchestra, and University music programs.

While I am a violist, I am also accomplished on the violin.

Photos courtesy of Lan Vo Photography

My Teaching Style

I develop a personal relationship with each student, because above all I want them to come to lessons excited to learn, perform, and develop their skills.

For beginners, I utilize a hybrid version of the popular Suzuki method. This allows me to encourage strong technical and tonal development while teaching students also learn about note reading and musical interpretation.

Advancing students are introduced to vibrato, shifting, and bowing techniques with appropriate exercises, improvisation, and a few fun tricks I have up my sleeve!

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse