Chris Sanchez

violin

A native of the Washington D.C. region, violinist Chris Sanchez began his musical studies at age seven, completing all ten Suzuki volumes within five years and continuing his childhood studies with David Salness at the University of Maryland and at the Meadowmount School in New York. He has earned performance degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park (BM) and the University of Georgia (MM). His major teachers have included David Salness, Ronda Cole, Sally Thomas, Dr. Levon Ambartsumian, Charles Castleman, and Arnold Steinhardt and John Dalley of the Guarneri String Quartet. Chris has freelanced with various orchestras in the Washington, DC region, including the National Philharmonic Orchestra, and performs chamber music and solo recitals regularly. He performs on the 1903 Ex-Mischakoff Stefano Scarampella violin and bow made by Etienne Pajeot circa 1815.

Driven by his fascination with how a teacher’s artful words alone can transform one’s technical and creative efficacy, Chris developed a passion for musical education at an early age. He believes that every child has a unique and important journey in life and his teaching philosophy centers on helping each child discover possibility beyond their peripheries. His students have won various competitions, attained youth orchestra concertmaster positions, and have been accepted to numerous acclaimed collegiate music schools. Chris co-founded and co-directs Capitol Sound Strings in Washington, DC, after having served as co-director of the Greater Washington Suzuki Institute alongside Ronda Cole. Capitol Sound Strings is a non-profit organization that is committed to developing excellence in the performing arts among the rising generation of the Greater Washington Area. Chris lives in Bethesda, MD with his wife and two children, ages 7 and 5.