We are delighted to announce a new member of our teaching faculty for the 2015-2016 school year, Mr. Christopher Sforza. Welcome, Chris!
Christopher A. Sforza is a musician
and educator originally from Watertown, Connecticut. Before he joined CYM, he spent the last seven
years living in Ithaca NY, where he received his B.M. in Music Education and
M.M. in Suzuki Pedagogy from Ithaca College.
Christopher’s educational philosophy focuses on bringing people together
through music and the arts. He is passionate
about empowering students of all ages through his teaching and exposing
students to a variety of music from a diverse cultural and stylistic
background.
In addition to being a dedicated teacher,
Christopher is also an active performer.
During his time at Ithaca College he regularly performed with the Ithaca
College Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and numerous chamber music
ensembles. His primary violin teachers at Ithaca included Nicholas DiEugenio
and Susan Waterbury. Christopher studied
Suzuki Pedagogy with Carrie Reuning-Hummel and received training from Edward
Kreitman and Kimberly Meier-Sims.
In his spare time, Christopher
enjoys composing and arranging music. He
feels strongly about working with living composers and the importance of performing
new music in addition to the standard classical repertoire. He has had the opportunity to work with
contemporary composers such as Michael Gandolfi, Melinda Wagner, Steven Stucky,
and Steven Mackey.
When Christopher is not with violin
in hand, he loves going to the farmer’s market and buying vegetables for a new
recipe.
We enjoy a Q+A session with Mr. Chris...
CYM: What is your favorite composer or piece to play, and why?
Mr. Chris: How can anyone pick his or her favourite
composer/piece? It's impossible. I will say that J.S. Bach will
always remain my musical foundation. As a lover of all things Baroque, I
find the beauty, energy, and invention in Bach to deeply resonate within
me. Bach can one minute make me smile and laugh; the next moment I am
brought to tears. Mozart has a similar affect on me. Try listening
to the "Great c minor mass" without a box of tissues on hand.
CYM: If you could have
lunch with anyone, who would it be (and what would you eat?)
Mr. Chris: I think that I would have lunch with Meryl Streep
at a Thai restaurant. That seems like a great combination of flavour and
fame.
CYM: What has music given you?
Mr. Chris: Music has given me the tools to communicate to
people across cultures and backgrounds. It has given me a way to express
myself intellectually, emotionally, and artistically. It has also given
me an opportunity to give back to the community and the ability to inspire
others.
CYM: What was your favorite childhood book?
Mr. Chris: There was this short little picture book called
"The Ghost's Dinner" that I was obsessed with as a kid. It was
about a dinner party that a group of ghosts were throwing in which they changed
colour according to each of the courses that they ate. I even made a
diorama for a book report on it in either 1st or 2nd grade.
CYM: What is your favorite treat to eat?
Mr. Chris: Does hummus or falafel count as a treat?
CYM: Haha, of course!
We hope that you'll be sure to say hello to Mr. Chris if you see him!
