Born on February 6, 1990 at the Marbella neighborhood in Panama City near the
Bridge of the Americas,
Christian moved with his family to Europe when he was still a toddler. After living in
Switzerland and Spain, his family migrated to the United States and settled in Westchester - New York back in 1998.
While struggling to adapt and to learn English, he turned into music to ease his
anxieties. Every day during school recess, he sat close to the music room to listen the
band rehearse. One day, the Director asked him, if he wanted to join the band. So at the age of seven,
under the guidance and support of Mr. Milton Williams†, Christian began to walk his musical path.
His ability with the Clarinet was immediately apparent and in few months he was already playing with the HS Band. He started to participate in the New York State Music Association Festival where he consistently obtain qualifying scores and performed every year until his HS graduation in 2008. He played first chair clarinet twice and first chair tenor sax once at the New York State Music Association Festivals, as well as first chair Clarinet in the All County Orchestra. His proficiency with the Clarinet has given him the opportunity to participate in both the All-State and the All-Eastern music festivals during 2006 (events organized by MENC).
By 2000 he discovered that Jazz was his turf by the hand of pianist Sarina Bachleitner who runs a phenomenal Jazz Apprenticeship program in the city. Christian plays the Piano, Clarinet, Flute and the Saxes, although he confesses "my voice is the Tenor".
He doesn't like idols, but he has great admiration for artists like Joe Henderson†,
Sonny Rollins, Paquito de Rivera and Chris Potter; whose insatiable search for perfection and exemplary
performances serve as a beacon to generations of Musicians.
For Christian, music is a way to lead and reach out to his community.
"Being a leader and catalyst for change is not an easy task especially as an Hispanic descendent
because we try to integrate until we forget sometimes who we are, or who we have become."
In 2003, he was introduced to Ianthia Calhoun and her young musicians at Woodlands High School through a community Jazz program. Ms. Calhoun asked Christian to work with the students to enhance their music skills. Christian spent innumerable hours at Woodlands Middle and High School playing with them. Their Jazz Band continues success, has played an important role in convincing the school administration to keep the arts program alive and well funded. Christian and the Woodlands Middle and High School Jazz Band have played at many festivals, senior home facilities, and community centers. Also with this band he recorded and performed with Wycliffe Gordon and received an Outstanding Soloist Award on the 2005 Sleepy Hollow Jazz Festival where the band end up in second place.
2005 was his departure year; he started playing with the Latin Jazz and the Honors Orchestra of the Westchester Music Conservatory. He was invited to perform with the Westchester Philharmonic for the inauguration of the 9/11 Westchester Memorial. In addition, he was selected as one of ten national winners of the Leadership contest of the NCLR that awarded him with an academic scholarship of $5000 that he used to pay for his bari Sax. He also won a full merit scholarship to attend the Northern Illinois University Jazz Summer Program for 2005 that repeated on 2006 where he was selected in both occasions to the Top Combo directed by Marlene Rosenberg. That 2005 Autumn, he was selected as an official member of the New York Youth Symphony "Jazz Band Classic" for 2005-2006 season playing the Baritone; where he had the opportunity to share the stage with Jazz luminaries as Frank Wess and Gerry Smulyan under the direction of Ryan Keberle.
On 2006 he was selected again for the 2006-2007 season of the JBC as 2nd Tenor where he played with the legendary Warren Vaché and Steve Turre under the direction of Chris Winans. Also selected that year as a Lead Tenor for the Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra; a program organized by guitar player David O'rourke that runs at the Jazz Standard giving Christian the opportunity to play almost every Sunday with live audiences.
At his High School - Briarcliff Manor, Christian was a leading participant in school concerts and jazz band, where on graduation he obtained the 2008 Outstanding Musician Award.
Selected by the New York Summer School of the Arts to participate in their Jazz Program for the summer of 2007; where he was the recipient of the Dean L. Harrington Memorial Scholarship in recognition of musical achievement. Recently selected top Tenor player at the SUNY Purchase Summer Jazz program also during that summer he was invited to work as an assistant teacher for the Jazz Improv camp at the Teacher's College at Columbia University.
Picture taken at the Jazz Standard features Chris soloing with three
fellow musicians: Sam Rosen on electric guitar, the almost invisible
Jeff Koch on Acoustic Bass and Melvin Brison also on Tenor Sax.
On August 2007 he received an invitation to participate in two NYSSMA All State Ensembles (Jazz and Symphonic Orchestra). He decided to accept the position on the Jazz Band. He was also selected for his 3rd consecutive year as member of the NYYS Jazz Band Classic, this season 2007/2008 he will be playing Lead Tenor.
In 2008 Chris was accepted to pursue his Jazz Studies at several prestigious schools. Among them
Oberlin,
Steinhardt NYU and
Berklee School of Music; but he decided to continue his formal
education at the
New England Conservatory.
Where he has been improving
his music abilities. He is now his Jr year and has recently selected as a Lead Tenor for the NEC Big Band where most of its members are grad students.
During his short, not yet professional career, he has performed at such prestigious venues as the Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, Alice Tully Hall and Allen Room at Lincoln Center and clubs like Garage and the Jazz Standard.
He owes great deal of his musical knowledge and technical ability to his various teachers and group directors who had help him through different stages of his ongoing development; among others we can mention: Milton Augustine Williams, Jr.†, Jerry Lucadamo, Bill Vollinger, Larry Cohen, Sarina Bachleitner, André Sweetman, Anthony Aibel, Patrick Forero, Gerry Malkin, Ianthia Calhoun, Delia Montenegro, Scott Castle, Marlene Rosenberg, -->Stella Tarcinis, Gary Smulyan, Dolores Bech, Ryan Keberle, Charlie Lagond, Chris Winans, David O'Rourke, Vincent de Larocca, Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Cecil McBee, Dave Holland, Ken Schaphorst, Patience Higgins.
On his free time he listen all flavors of Jazz, practice and enjoys going out with his friends.