Christopher Acquavella is a classical mandolinist/guitarist currently residing in San Diego , California . Chris started playing guitar at the age of ten, studying with Robert Hoth and Peter Pupping. In 2001, Chris directed all of his attention to the classical mandolin. He graduated First Class Honors 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 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. 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.

Chris Acquavella has performed at major venues across Europe and America both in a solo and chamber music capacity. Since the early 1990s, Chris has performed as a 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. Until October 2006, Chris performed and recorded with contemporary music ensemble, Izbuha including performances at Blackheath Halls and the Sunrise Music Festival in Glastonbury, England. He was the Artist in Residence for the Encinitas Guitar Orchestra. He currently performs with guitarist, Nathan Jarrell (Duo Acquavella/Jarrell), as well as other San Diego based musicians. Aside from chamber music, Chris concertizes as a soloist & orchestral musician with various orchestras such as Blackheath Halls Orchestra (UK), Dartington Festival Orchestra (UK), Trinity String Ensemble (UK), E.G.M.A. (DE), New City Sinfonia (USA), Cashel Entertainment (USA) and the San Diego Symphony (USA). As well as performing, Chris is also a guitar/mandolin instructor at Old Time Music in San Diego and Buffalo Brothers in Carlsbad. Aside from performing, Chris is also a guitar/mandolin instructor at Old Time Music & Buffalo Brothers in San Diego.