bio - a texan in new york
Born in Austin, TX, Christopher Renquist North is a multi-instrumental composer and singer-songwriter based in New York City. As a composer his works have been performed at venues in Europe (London, Berlin and Edinburgh) and the US (Texas, California, Illinois, Ohio, Hawaii and New York) including collaborations with film makers (Tribeca, BIg Apple and SXSW Film Festivals), theater companies (including Workshop Theater, NY and Edinburgh Fringe), choreographers (Wave Hill, Joyce SOHO) and concerts including the 92nd Street Y. His children’s songs can be heard around the globe on the Disney channel and the Noggin Network (Oobi). As an genre-crossing musician, he has performed and recorded with an eclectic array of artists and ensembles. He has played bass with Quincy Jones, the Dixie Chicks, Rosanne Cash, various symphony orchestras as well on Broadway in The Lion King and Spring Awakening. He has sung with the New York Philharmonic (including the 3 Grammy Award winning John Adams’ “On the Transmigration of Souls”) and for Stephen Sondheim ("Frogs" with Nathan Lane). He has performed at venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, CBGB’s and Madison Square Garden. He has performed on national TV (including Live with Regis and Kelly and Live at Lincoln Center), and been heard on the radio (NPR, WNYC) and commercials (including Visa and Tide). He has recorded and performed extensively as a mutli-instrumentalist (guitar, keyboards, harmonica, etc.) In 2002, he produced and released two albums of his own compositions, one is classical: chamber music and art songs, and the other is a eclectic rock/soul album on which he played most of the instruments (including guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, harmonica and even sitar, recorder, and glockenspiel). By spring of 2008, he will have released 6 cd's of his music. Recently, he’s been focusing on collaborating – sound design/ music for “The Forever Waltz” by Glyn Maxwel, the score for Angelica Torn's Lucky Days and various projects with Writer/Director Matthew Miele, finishing the feature length film “Everything’s Jake” in 2006 and "Eavesdrop" in September 2007. Their next collaboration is a documentary on Abner Zwillman. Cn is now working on another magnum opus SPACE BAR - a collaborative double album of new songs, grooves and sounds to be released in the spring. He also in the process of putting together a guitar / songwriting method (along with videos) - a culmination of 10 years of teaching in the city.
comprehensive résumé
Composer (schizophonic music, BMI)
Film Scores
> Everything’s Jake, A Film by Matthew Miele starring Ernie Hudson, score performed by composer (with string quartet and saxophone) distributed by Warner Brothers
> Skips, a Short Film by Steve Curley, guitar and percussion score (2003) official entry in 2003 Tribeca Film Festival
> Addict, a Very Short FIlm by Steve Curley, ambient score
> The Tip (1997) multi-tracked double bass and piano score for short film produced and directed by Kahvan Mashayekh premiered at the Independent Film Festival, Houston, TX, official entry in the 1998 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX and in the 1998 Houston International Film Festival.
Film Scores (recently completed and off to festivals)
> Eavesdrop, A Film by Matthew Miele starring Chris Parnell, Tovah Feldshuh, Terennce Mann
> Lucky Days, A Film by Angelica Torn starring actor/writer/director Angelica Torn, Luke Zarzecki, co-director Tony Torn, Rip Torn, Federico Castelluccio
Film Scores (upcoming)
> Documentary on Jewish Mobster Abner Zwillman, A Film by Matthew Miele
Classical/Orchestral
> Opus Zero (2002) by Christopher North, 13 track self-produced CD (including art song, chamber music, solo pieces)
> Renquist (2007) by Christopher North, 15 track self-produced compilation of 1988-1998 works (including art song, chamber music, solo works, electronic soundscapes for dance)
> Many new chamber works and Art songs for a Distinguished Artist recitals at the 92nd St Y in February 2001 and February 2008.
Jazz
> 15 original jazz tunes composed for "Eavesdrop" score. Seven premiered live at February 2008 92nd st Y recital.
Theater Scores / Sound design
> The Forever Waltz (2005) Original Music and Sound Design for the Glyn Maxwell Play (including “the feather lake song” with words by the poet) produced by Verse Theater Manhattan / Workshop Theater in NYC and produced by Restricted View in London and Presented at Edinburgh Fringe 2005, directed by Elysa Marden
> The Three Musketeers (1998) score/sound design for the play commissioned (with Meet the Composer) by The American Globe Theater, NYC
> The Husbands (world premiere in August 1998 at the New York International Fringe Festival) live score/sound design (one musician) for the Christopher
Logue play, directed by Elysa Marden, produced by Richard Ryan / Verse Productions
Dance Scores
> suddenly green (1998) for recorder, guitar, and percussion (one musician / dancer performed by the composer) commissioned by the Field and choreographer Sherri Greenspan for the Dancing in the Streets Festival at Wave Hill, Bronx NY
> Seuss Suites (1998) multi-instrumental score/sound design for dance commissioned by Valerie Alpert and Company, Columbus OH
> i take nights in the middle of my walk (1997-1998) for double bass, guitar and percussion (one musician / dancer performed by the composer) commissioned by choreographer Sherri Greenspan, presented at Joyce Theater Soho, NYC
> What Are You Afraid Of? (1997) multi-instrumental score/sound design commissioned by Valerie Alpert and Company, Columbus OH
> Seed (1995) for violin, multi-media collaboration with choreographer Michelle Lee Adams for performance by New Arts Collective, Dallas TX
Songwriter (schizophonic music, BMI) - Children’s Songs/Pop Songs-CDs
> Songs for Sesame Street International, Disney Channel and Noggin Network for Josh Selig / Little Airplane Productions, (2001-2003)
> Christopher North, de la sur (2002), 17 track self-produced CD
> blue skye, yesterday's yesteryear blues (1994) 10 track self-produced CD
Musician
TV/Commercials/Jingles
> Various commercials including Tide, Visa, Mastercard for Sacred Noise, NY(2003-present) Bass, Voice
> Appearances with the Young People’s Chorus of NYC on Live with Regis and Kelly and Unicef Snowflake (December 2004) Bass
Multi-instrumental
> Christopher North’s De la Sur (2002), vocals, acoustic and electric basses, acoustic and electric guitars, drums / percussion, keyboards, sitar, recorder, harmonica.
> Enid Levine and the Boys, Take this show on the Road (2000), Acoustic / electric /fretless bass, nylon, steel and 12 string guitar, harmonica, vocals
> blue skye, yesterday's yesteryear blues (1995) Singer/songwriter, bass, keys, guitar & mixing
> many more recordings as guitarist, bassist and keyboardist - available on request
Bass/Double Bass-Broadway/Theater
> Lion King on Broadway, New York NY (August 2001-present) substitute player for Tom Barney
> Spring Awakening on Broadway, New York NY (January 2007-present) substitute player for George Farmer
> RENT on Broadway, New York NY (January 2004 – January 2005) substitute player for Steve Mack
Guitarist- Broadway/Theater
> Lion King on Broadway, New York NY (December 2004-present) substitute player for Kevin Kuehn, the chair requires guitar (elec. and classical), ukelele and kalimba
Vocal Recordings/Ensemble
> Various demo and jingle recordings, New York, NY (1997-Present) inc. Disney International and Sesame Street
> John Adams’ “On the Transmigration of Souls,” for Nonesuch Records with the New York Philharmonic / New York Choral Artists, winner of 3 Grammy awards (2005)
> Stephen Sondheim’s “The Frogs / Evening Primrose” (2000) for Nonesuch Records,
featured Nathan Lane at the Hit Factory
> Alice Parker “My Love and I”, (2000) Men’s choral works from the Robert Shaw / Alice Parker catalog for Melodius Accord at Riverside Church
> “Kurt Masur at the NY Philharmonic,“ 10-CD Box Set features New York Choral Artists
> many more recordings - available on request
Producer - Children’s Songs
> Ivan Ulz’s “Fire Truck”, (2005) cd and book for Scholastic, 30,000 units sold at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com
Education:
Bachelor of Music in Music Composition, Southern Methodist University (1992-1994)
University of North Texas, 90+ hours toward honors Bachelor of Music (1987-1991)
Teacher-Bass/Guitar, Private/Studio/School Instruction:
> Private Studio, Denton and Dallas TX, New York and Brooklyn NY (1990 to present)
> 92nd Street Y, New York NY (1997-Present)
> American Music Studio, New York NY (October 1999 – January 2002)
> Sam Ash Music Center, New York NY (February 1998-March 1999)
> Episcopal School of Dallas, Dallas TX (1993-1997)
Special Skills:
Bassist/Double Bass/Acoustic and Electric (classical, and other multiple styles), Guitarist/Acoustic and Electric (classical, and other multiple styles) classical/crossover singer (bass baritone), sitar, piano, conductor, recording engineer well versed in Final Cut Pro, Pro Tools, Digital Performer, Sibelius, Finale
*References available upon request Most of the cds listed on here are available at itunes.com
(long) bio - just in case you really wanted the whole story
Born Christopher North Renquist on February 6, 1969 in Austin, Texas, Christopher North is a multi-instrumental singer-songwriter and composer based in New York City. He began his life in music with piano at age 7, singing in church choirs at 8, picking up guitar and bass at 13, writing songs soon after. As the “son of a preacher man” and an actress/drama teacher growing up in Dallas, he spent some time in the spotlight as a child actor/model, appearing on stage and screen, as well as an athlete on the football field. Around 14, he got out of theater for good and - following his true calling - creating music on every instrument he could get his hands on (bass, guitar, drums, piano and violin) and recording his compositions on his Tascam 4 track. Tearing his ACL nipped his athletic pursuits and allowed him to further focus on music (honors choir, more formal lessons). Along with his brother Jon, a drummer, he recorded and released his first studio recording, Lost Cause's "Of Sentimental Value" at 15 and selling the homegrown tapes in the lunchroom cafeteria. Lost Cause, expanding to a power trio (with his brother Jon and childhood friend Tom Shoptaw) played live on KNON, selling a 7 song cassette of the live performance. In his junior year of high school, an honors Acoustics project - within a supervised research physics class - focused on sound waves from electric guitars (comparing single coil and humbucker), placed at state competitons and won a substantial honorarium. This and his job at a video store were further funding for another release ("Hey Kid's ... it's Lost Cause") by the trio, hailed "young songwriting lions" by the Dallas Observer, that sold 1,000 copies and received local airplay. They played "Underground Music" (as it was called at the time) in the burgeoning Deep Ellum music scene opening for the New Bohemians, the Descendents, the Lyres, and Soul Asylum. By 18, he focused most of his practice time in the classical music realm studying double bass and voice as a Music Compostion Major at University of North Texas jazz school in Denton, Texas. After three years, he eventually grew tired of the small town and relocated back to Dallas to be a freelance musician. That was the plan, anyway. But after working at Whole Foods on Greenvillle Avenue (his last non-music related job and the best place to meet musicians during the day and steadily decreasing from 5 days to 2 days a week,) he achieved his goal. Still, he got restless again and decided to return to college recieving his Bachelor of Music from Southern Methodist University in May 1994. Throughout his late teens and twenties, he continued extensive study with lessons and masterclasses in jazz on guitar and electric bass, as well as classical guitar, all the while satisfying his curiousities with supplemental courses in jazz and classical piano, saxophone, modern dance, photography, chaos theory, ethno-musicology / percussion and conducting with enough credits for several degrees. (He didn't sleep much- these were dues paying times.) He had some success in his home state with his bands - the fishes, the everlasting gobstoppers, M street quartet and blue skye - culminating with the later's "Yesterday's Yesteryear Blues" album, a 10 track self-released cd on his Schizophonic Music label in 1994 that recieved local airplay and sold many copies. Despite thriving in Dallas in various ensembles (jazz, salsa, western swing, rock, and folk/acoustic), creating music for and dancing in the New Arts Collective (a multi-disciplinary modern dance group), singing every Sunday in a long standing church choir soloist position and as a freelance musician (including stints with the Dixie Chicks, members of New Bohemians, Turtle Creek Chorale, Musicals at Theater Three, various orchestras including Garland / Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra), his itchiness got the best of him again and found the call to "The City" unavoidable, moving to Manhattan in June 1997.
He has gone on to perform at the city’s most prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, CBGB’s, Lincoln Center, Arlene Grocery, Bitter End, Joe’s Pub, and Central Park's Summerstage as well as record at the Hit Factory. After being in town for a only a few months, he played Carnegie Hall and CGBG's for the first time within a week in October 1997. He's even been on stage at Lincoln Center and Arlene Grocery in the same night. He has made solo appearances as a singer-songwriter/guitarist in acoustic venues (Living Room, Sidewalk Cafe, Bitter End). As a freelance instrumentalist, he has performed/recorded with an eclectic array of artists/ensembles including: playing bass with – Quincy Jones, Rosanne Cash, Joss Stone and with various symphony orchestras (including the New England Symphonic Ensemble, Pan American Orchestra) and chamber groups (including the Cassatt String quartet), on Broadway in the pit for The Lion King, RENT and Spring Awakening and for jingles (including Tide and MasterCard). As bassist for the Young People’s Chorus of NYC, he has appeared on Regional Television (UNICEF Snowflake), National Television (Live with Regis and Kelly) and Radio (NPR). As a freelance vocalist, he has performed/recorded with the New York Philharmonic (including a 2002 performance / recording of John Adam’s On the Transmigration of Souls that won 3 Grammy’s), the Los Angeles Philharmonic and for Stephen Sondheim’s “The Frogs” on Nonesuch Records with Davis Gaines and Nathan Lane. As a vocalist in the New York Choral Artists, he has worked with all the great conductors / directors of our time (Masur, Maazel, Thomas, Jarvi, Davis, Muti, Barenboim, Salonen, Gemignani, Flummerfelt.) As multi-instrumentalist, he has played guitar, keyboards, harmonica, bass and sitar with members of Modern English, 10,000 Maniacs and Living Colour. He even jammed in a blues harmonica duel with Jim Belushi.
He has performed with various ensembles opening for James Brown, Itzhak Perlman, Jessye Norman, India.Arie, Wyclef Jean, Youssou N'Dour, Omar Faruk, Yo-Yo Ma, Shirley Cesar, Wynton Marsalis, The Wildflowers, Los Lobos, Midge Ure, Tears for Fears and Jesus Jones, as well as appearing on the same bill/stage as Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Vanessa Redgrave, Mia Farrow, Alec Baldwin, Paul Sorvino, Roger Moore, Ted Koppel, Katie Couric and Donald Trump. He has performed for a long list of V.I.P's including Barbara Walters, Billy Joel, David Bowie, Ron Howard, Sydney Pollack, Dustin Hoffman, George Plimpton, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Sen. John Kerry and First Lady Laura Bush. As a children's performer, he has peformed solo in Carnegie Hall, as pre-concert sing along actvity, opening for Robert Lithgow / Fort Worth Symphony. He has worked as a songwriter, bassist, vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, harmonica player, sitarist and arranger/producer for Walt Disney International, Nonesuch Records, Scholastic Books, Koch International, Sony Records, Mi5 Recordings, Quixotic Endeavors and Sesame Street International.
As a composer his works have been performed at venues in the United States (Texas, California, Illinois, Ohio, Hawaii and New York) and Europe (London, Edinburgh and Berlin) including collaborations with film makers (screenings at Tribeca, Big Apple Film Festivals and awards at SXSW and Houston International), dancer/choreographers (including presentations at Wave Hill and Joyce Soho) and theater companies (On, Off and Off-Off Broadway presentations, including New York International Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Fringe and commissions by Meet the Composer). Several of his songs for children can be heard around the world on the Noggin Network (including 3 songs on OOBI Season Two - "Clean Room", "Uma Trip" sung by Stephanie D'Abruzzo of Avenue Q and "Rockabye Lullaby" sung by Kevin Klash aka Elmo), Sesame Street and the Disney Channel (where his song “Try Again” was recorded by Leon Redbone.) He produced Ivan Ulz's song "Fire Truck" on Scholastic which has sold nearly 40,000 copies.
All of these experiences as a freelancer and collaborator continue to take his abilities to new levels, but for the first few years of the millennium, his primary focus was producing his own music. The result being two albums he composed and produced in 2002, one is an eclectic oriented rock album on which he played most of the instruments, and the other is modern chamber music. Both are available on Itunes and Cd Baby. Around 2005 he was back to collaborating - highlights include music/sound design for the Glyn Maxwell play The Forever Waltz, a score for Angelica Torn's Lucky Days and the scores for “Everything’s Jake”, a Matthew Miele Film starring Ernie Hudson and more recently a feature called "Eavesdrop." Christopher is to begin working with Mr. Miele on a documetary on a Abner Zwillman. He recently finished compiling a decade of previously unreleased tracks (1988 to 1998) - 74 minutes of music/sound design for dance, chamber music and rock songs - was released in January (his fifth Schizophonic Music cd). Other plans include writing and recording more songs (a multi-collaborative double album for 2008 is in the works), finishing his symphony # 0, landing a Broadway “singing bassist” role and playing more acoustic jazz.
He teaches bass, guitar and songwriting to students of all ages at his studio and at the 92nd st Y. Three of his former students in the band The Strokes graced the cover of Rolling Stone, played on Saturday Night Live and opened for the Rolling Stones. Since being in NYC, he has continued studies on bass with Chris Mathers and Orin O'brien (of NY Phiharmonic and Julliard) - inlcuding a master class with Edgar Meyer, conducting lessons with John Yaffè as well as vocal studies with Nanette Natal. He is currrently working on a guitar / songwriting method book.