Christopher Walczak

Biography

As a self-taught guitarist, provoked by a passionately creative family, composing music has been a part of everyday life for Christopher Walczak from his youth until the present. By early adulthood a path materialized: the serious study of composition within the halls of the academy. Christopher’s repertoire includes works for solo instruments, chamber ensembles of various sizes, full symphony as well as chamber orchestra, music for computer, and interactive electro-acoustic music.
Christopher is currently Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the United States. He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Composition from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and a doctorate from Rice University. His music has been commissioned, performed, and recorded by various orchestras and ensembles including the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the University of Wisconsin - Madison Symphony Orchestra, the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Wind Ensemble, the Wisconsin Alliance for Composers, Flutes Quatre, Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble, Brightmusic, Ensemble Laboratorium, Relache, and members of Grammy Award winning Eighth Blackbird.
Christopher specializes in compositional systems and uses theories of music as generative compositional devices. He is interested interpreting pieces of music as travels through preexisting musical space.

Roles

• Composer