Christopher Goldston (b. 1972), Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, holds a master of music degree in piano performance and pedagogy from Northwestern University and a bachelor of music degree in piano performance from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. He has taught at Columbia College Chicago and Sherwood Conservatory of Music and currently maintains an independent studio in the historic Fine Arts Building in Chicago, in addition to teaching virtually. In 1991, Christopher received the National Federation of Music Clubs Lynn Freeman Olson Composition Award for his first composition, “Night Train.” Since then, he has written numerous pieces for piano, voice, and chamber ensemble, including his “Thesis for Wind Quintet,” which won the 1993 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Composition Contest for North Carolina. He has compositions published by Alfred Music and the FJH Music Company. MTNA has commissioned Christopher for the Collaborative Music Commissioning Project for the 2022 MTNA National Conference.
Christopher has been the national coordinator for the MTNA Composition Competition since 2010. He has also served as state and division coordinator for the competition. Christopher has been very active in the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association and has served in numerous roles, including president, and vice-president in charge of programs. He was member of the year in 2008. He also served as president for the Illinois State Music Teachers Association from 2018 to 2020. Christopher was named an MTNA Foundation Fellow in 2020, and recently served as MTNA National Secretary-Treasurer for the 2021-2023 biennium.
Christopher is also in demand as a clinician and guest artist. He has presented for music groups across the United States and has presented sessions at numerous MTNA state conferences, as well as at the MTNA national conference in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2004. His students have won local, state, and national composition competitions, including the 2016–2017 Young Artist winner for the MTNA Composition Competition.
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