Classical guitarist Chris Anderson is a performing artist who regularly appears at music venues scattered throughout the mid-Atlantic United States.  On stage, Chris balances pieces at the core of the classical guitar’s repertoire with others that are rarely heard.  Works by widely recognized composers such as J.S. Bach are also getting his attention.  

His concerts include a number of works written for other instruments that he has adapted for the guitar.  They range from the piano music of Maurice Ravel and Enrique Granados, to pieces originally written for the Elizabethan lute.  He often ends a program with a few of his arrangements of American jazz standards.

Anderson’s involvement with the guitar started over forty-five years ago.  After moving from Canada at the age of seven, Chris lived across the street from a music store in Hagerstown, Md.  The store quickly became his favorite place to spend time.  The owners very generously tolerated his endless presence and questions.  

He learned mostly by watching customers and employees try out instruments, and from an older brother who also played guitar.  At the age of twelve he played in public for the first time.  As a teenager, Chris was working in the music store and playing in church twice a week.  He was also frequently performing with various groups playing acoustic music at coffeehouses, schools, and festivals.

While attending Bethany College near Wheeling, W.Va. in the early 1970's, Chris became a passionate admirer of the music of J.S. Bach.  A friend gave him a recording of Bach's music played on a classical guitar.  A few days later, he sold his steel-string guitars and started studies on the classical instrument under the supervision of Bethany's piano professor.    

At the time, Chris was unaware of the handful of schools in North America that offered formal academic studies of the guitar.  After graduating with a major in history and a minor in music, he pursued additional undergraduate studies in Guitar Performance at the new guitar department of Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Va.

He went on to serve as an instructor at Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, W.Va. where he established that school's first degree program in Guitar Studies.  He also taught in and around his hometown for eleven years and was regularly featured as a solo recitalist by regional art councils, colleges, and institutions.  His playing was spotlighted on Maryland Public Television.

After a ten year break from performing, Chris returned to the stage in February of 2004.  Since then, his playing has been enthusiastically received by a growing number of audiences.  His recent schedule has included concerts in Washington D.C., Pittsburgh Pa., Richmond Va., Baltimore Md., Wilmington De., Wheeling W. Va., and other towns throughout the region.  

Chris spent four years studying privately with Franco Platino and Ana Vidovic.  He's also participated as a performing student at dozens of masterclasses taught by twenty-four of the world’s most respected guitarists.  Among them have been Sharon Isbin, Manuel Barrueco, Pepe Romero, Raphaella Smits, and Denis Azabagic.    

Currently, Chris confines his musical activities to concert performances, recording, arranging music, and writing about various subjects related to the classical guitar.  One of his articles was recently published in "Classical Guitar Magazine", the world's leading classical guitar print media outlet out of England.   In his spare time, he's an avid chef.  He also gets on a bicycle from time to time, although not often enough to keep him from hearing that he needs to get some exercise. 


March 2008