|
|
|---|
Christopher Acquavella is a classical mandolinist/guitarist currently residing in San Diego, California. Chris started playing guitar at the age of ten. He studied guitar with Robert Hoth and Peter Pupping. Since the early 1990s, Chris has performed as a classical guitarist/mandolinist and also with many rock bands, playing both electric guitar and bass. He released three albums for Why? Distro, Facedown Records, and Tooth and Nail/Solid State Records. Chris, along with the band Born Blind, toured across the United States, headlining festivals such as Cornerstone Festival and Solid State Festival. From 2000 - 2002, he played mandolin for Celtic/Bluegrass group - Clarsah, who had a residency at Dublin Square Irish Pub in San Diego's famed Gaslamp Quarter District.
In 2001, Chris directed all of his attention to the classical mandolin. He graduated First Class Honours with a BMus (Hons) degree in Performance from Trinity College of Music in London, England. He studied under the instruction of Alison Stephens and participated in Master Class with German virtuoso, Caterina Lichtenberg. Chris won the Wolfsan Foundation Music Award in 2004 and was awarded the TCM Trust Silver Medal for String Studies in 2006. He represented Great Britain in the European Guitar and Mandolin Youth Orchestra, which performed several concerts throughout Greece and recorded an album in 2003. His participation was made possible by the generous sponsorships from Plucked Strings Foundation Inc. and the BMG Federation in England. In 2004, Chris premiered a new work for mandolin and orchestra, "In Response to Spring", by Denise Mangiardi, conducted by Nicholas Pendlebury. Chris also performed in 2004, "Concerto in G, Diana of the Uplands" by R. Chadwick at Bolivar Hall in London. Other concerti performances include "Mandolin Concerto in C" and "Double Concerto in G" by Vivaldi, as well as "Concerto in C" by G. Paisiello in 2006. Recent orchestral work includes "Elegy for Young Lovers" and "Judgement of Calliope" by Henze as well as "The Three Penny Opera" by Kurt Weill. Chris Acquavella has performed at major venues across Europe and America both in a solo and chamber music capacity. Until October 2006, Chris also performed and recorded with contemporary music ensemble, Izbuha including performances at Blackheath Halls and the Sunrise Music Festival in Glastonbury, England. He currently performs with guitarist, Alexander Meyers and is the Artist in Residence for the Encinitas Guitar Orchestra. Aside from teaching and performing, Chris is also Production Coordinator for the San Diego Youth Symphony, founded in 1945. |