Biography

Dr. Christopher Schoelen is an award-winning classical guitar performer and teacher. He interprets, arranges, and teaches music ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary music. In 2019 he completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree (D.M.A.) in guitar performance from the University of South Carolina and was the winner of numerous academic scholarships and obtained a minor in music theory. Currently residing Ohio, Christopher is teaching guitar at Heidelberg University and has a robust studio of private guitar and language students. 

Being an active performer, Christopher regularly gives performances as a solo artist, in chamber ensemble settings, and for church services. In 2021 his duo, Deux Saisons, released a holiday album titled, Winter’s Light. At the end of 2020 Christopher released his second solo guitar album titled, Neo: Modernism & the Guitar. Beyond performing and teaching, Christopher has developed a strong online studio and teaches guitar, Spanish, and Italian to students worldwide.

Christopher began playing the guitar at the age of 12 and quickly fell in love with the instrument. He has since dedicated his life to the classical guitar and the repertoire. With this passion for the instrument, he has achieved numerous awards, released three albums, performed internationally, and has developed a formidable teaching presence in his community as well as online. His studies of the classical guitar began by obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from Humboldt State University under the instruction of Nicholas Lambson. Afterward, he began his solo career by performing throughout the USA from California to Vermont.

In 2011, Christopher moved to Seville, Spain to learn flamenco guitar and further his study of classical music with the Spanish guitarist, Francisco Bernier. There he performed throughout Europe and studied at the Conservatorio Superior de Música Manuel Castillo for three years. During this time, he attended guitar festivals where he took master classes with Judicaël Perroy and Paolo Pegoraro and had the chance to perform in Spain and Italy. While living in Europe he also developed a love for languages and learned how to speak Italian and Spanish.

Christopher plays on a 2016 handmade environmentally friendly guitar, named Tellus, built by the luthier Stephan Connor.