Small Batch is an intimate new music concert series held in the Recording Studio's Live Room, curated by Russell Podgorsek and Andrew Stoltz. Each season includes one student-driven "batch" of performances chosen from submitted proposals. The series was created in the 2019-20 school year. The Butler School will be streaming recordings from the previously recorded performances during the pandemic for all to enjoy.
Violinist Christopher Whitley presents: landscape shifts
Camille Scheiss-Mariano, violin
Kumiko Sakamoto, soprano and violin
Julia Dixon, cello
landscape shifts is a multimedia piece for small ensemble, electronics, and projections. It is a piece about the impermanence of the borders between people, places, and things. It's about looking a little closer, listening a little more carefully, and moving a little bit slower.
Biography
Canadian violinist Christopher Whitley is an engaging and versatile performer. From Baroque to electronic music, Christopher is committed to exploring and performing music of all styles.
As a founding member of the Thalea String Quartet, Christopher has performed recitals across North America, Europe, and China, and has collaborated with members of the St. Lawrence, Kronos, and Emerson Quartets. The Thalea String Quartet was named the first string quartet-in-residence at the San Francisco Conservatory, and has performed in world famous halls that include Weill Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Massey Hall. They currently serve as the Doctoral Fellowship String Quartet at the University of Maryland. From 2018-20, they were the Young Professional String Quartet at the University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music, where they are mentored by the acclaimed Miró Quartet. They were named Associated Artists at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel for the 2018/19 season, where they are mentored by the Artemis Quartet.
Christopher has performed on period instruments at the Boston Early Music Festival, and the Valley of the Moon Music Festival in Sonoma, CA. An avid proponent of contemporary music, Christopher has performed as a member of NOVUS NY, and as both concertmaster and soloist of the McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble. During in time in the Bay Area, he was a regular guest of San Francisco jazz group Le Jazz Hot, performing music inspired by Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt.
As a composer, Christopher’s primary focus is on expanding the potential of the solo violin, incorporating technology, electronic music, and interactive visual art. Blending classical music, popular music, and a variety of improvised styles, he has performed across North America and has been invited to create new works at residencies at the Banff Centre and at the Britten Pears Young Artist Program in Aldeburgh, UK. His debut album hecca autre was released in 2018 on Belgian label Audio. Visuals. Atmosphere and his music has since been released on the Patient Sounds and Fluid Audio labels. He writes and releases songs as Body Surfer.
Christopher received his Bachelor’s of Music at McGill University studying with Mark Fewer, and received a Master's Degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Ian Swensen.
Christopher performs on the 1700 “Taft” Stradivari, generously on loan by the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank. In his spare time, he can be found at record stores, libraries, and coffee shops, and does whatever he can to get into a canoe.