Christopher Whitley

“[Whitley] is a sound magician with a deep understanding of
composers’ intentions.” (The Whole Note)

Praised for his “quicksilver brilliance” (Chicago Tribune) and described as “a stunningly versatile performer” (The Whole Note), Toronto-based violinist Christopher Whitley maintains a rich and varied career as a violinist, educator, and composer. Inspired by a deeply held sense of musical curiosity, Christopher strives to create inclusive musical experiences that blur the boundaries between genre and music style.

Christopher is a founding member of the Thalea String Quartet. Formed in 2014, the ensemble has performed recitals across North America, Europe, and China, and has appeared at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Massey Hall. They have held residency positions at the Queen Elizabeth Music Chapel in Belgium, the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, and the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts.

An enthusiastic collaborator, Christopher has shared the stage with members of the Emerson, Brentano, Kronos, St. Lawrence, and London Haydn String Quartets, violist Lawrence Power, pianist Michelle Cann, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw. In 2020, he formed multi-instrumental duo Colour of Anyhow with his wife, violinist and vocalist Kumiko Sakamoto. They have performed across North America, including a featured concert as part of the National Arts Centre’s #CanadaPerforms series.

A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Christopher actively performs and commissions music from new and established composers. His debut solo album, DESCRIBE YOURSELF, featured five newly commissioned works for solo violin, including Nicole Lizée’s Juno Award-winning composition “Don’t Throw Your Head in Your Hands”. He has toured and collaborated with Grammy-winning new music ensembles Eighth Blackbird and Roomful of Teeth.

Christopher is an active member of the Toronto music scene and regularly collaborates and performs with Toronto-based musicians and ensembles. He has collaborated with Juno-winning DJ and producer BAMBII, commissioned new music for solo violin from celebrated composer Kara-Lis Coverdale, and performed alongside Toronto-based jazz trio BADBADNOTGOOD. He is co-curator of Night Off, a monthly concert series that highlights adventurous programming and spontaneous musical interactions. He was appointed Principal Second Violin of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra in 2025.

Christopher has spent more than a decade developing and presenting innovative educational programming. Highlights include co-teaching a strings program for young people with autism and presenting lectures on non-verbal communication, improvisation, and career development. He has led workshops at institutions including Wayne State Medical School, Dalhousie University, the University of Maryland, and the Fischoff Chamber Music Academy. He has led masterclasses at the Berklee College of Music, the University of Miami, and the University of Texas at Austin. A recipient of the 2021 Ann Divine Educator Award from the Fischoff Competition, Christopher is a member of the violin faculty of the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Oscar Peterson School in Toronto.

A composer, improviser, and songwriter, Christopher has composed music for solo performers and chamber ensembles, in addition to works for electronics and mixed media. He has released albums on labels including Patient Sounds, Vaagner, and Fluid Audio. His 2024 album almost as soft as silence, featuring fifteen improvisations for solo violin, was praised for its “divine simplicity” (The Whole Note). He writes and records songs as Body Surfer.

Christopher received his Bachelor’s of Music at McGill University studying with Mark Fewer, and received a Master's Degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Ian Swensen. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland, studying with David Salness. Other principal mentors include Kelly Parkins-Lindstrom, Daniel Ching, and William Fedkenheuer.

Christopher performs on a 1900 Stefano Scarampella violin, generously on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank. In his spare time, he can be found at record stores, libraries, and coffee shops, and does whatever he can to get into a canoe. 

Photo Credit : Stella Sharpe