Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Gonzales
Hi Christian, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
After playing some piano, guitar, and drums informally as a kid, I began to take violin lessons at the age of 10 at my elementary school. I instantly fell in love with the instrument and began to practice it diligently. I soon joined youth orchestras and began performing around San Diego regularly. I then pursued my undergrad at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music where I was concertmaster and performed as soloist with the orchestra on the 1732 ‘Duke of Alcantara’ Stradivarius. I then pursued my master’s at the Juilliard School in New York where I truly felt like I began to find my “voice” not only as a violinist but as a musician. I have performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra musician across the United States, and have won a number of competitions and scholarships. I have returned to Southern California to develop the Christian Gonzales Violin Studio which aims to provide elite-level violin instruction.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has been fun but also a great struggle. When I was new to violin, even though I had such a great passion and interest for music, I did not know many things. I had little clue of how to practice efficiently and develop a healthy performance mindset most crucially. I often felt like I was not learning things as fast as I “should’ve” been, and I was often disappointed by my inconsistencies especially when it came to performance. In addition, trying to manage my musical pursuits with high school studies and sports (I was a competitive wushu practitioner) was very difficult to manage. I persisted through this.
I sacrificed a lot to be in the position I am in. I sacrificed time with friends, traveling, leisure, and even good sleep so I could dedicate more time to practicing violin and enriching my knowledge and appreciation for music. In my opinion it was worth it because I have such a deep passion and respect for music that I feel it is my duty to do it justice in performance because I highly value the human connection with audiences through music.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a freelance professional violinist. I perform regularly in high demand as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra musician, and I am developing a reputation as a teacher by providing private violin and music theory lessons and hosting masterclasses at various institutions. I have performed in a variety of venues ranging from Carnegie Hall, the Tanglewood Music Festival, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the New World Center, Copley Hall, and the Rady Shell among many others. I am the winner of the 2022 Atwater Kent Concerto Competition, and a prize winner of the Musical Merit, La Jolla Young Artists, and Grossmont MSC competitions. I have been the concertmaster of the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra and the UCLA Philharmonia and associate concertmaster of the Juilliard Orchestra. My collaborations have ranged from members of the New York Philharmonic to the Mariachi los Camperos. I have also performed my own compositions and arrangements in recitals. As an educator, some of my students have held positions in youth and community orchestras and freelance throughout Southern California.
What sets me apart is that I have a deep investment for the future of music. My mission is to provide meaningful and enriching musical experiences through concerts and educational opportunities to future musicians and music appreciators. This is why I am very dedicated to cultivating a rich human connection via music with others. Music has brought me so much joy and fulfillment and has shown me crucial life lessons, and I want to bring those positive experiences I’ve had to others.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Perhaps it is the human connection of music. Music has such an interesting power and pull to itself, every culture throughout time has some form of it. Music is an art form I feel that speaks directly to the soul. Music can have such fascinating qualities to it ranging from its raw artistry to its resonance with human emotions. The performer-audience relationship during a concert is such a special event which I treasure very much as a musician. My understanding of this human connection of music has evolved and developed throughout the years, and I am more invested in it than ever because it drives what I do. This is why I feel that it is my duty to provide enriching concerts and educational experiences.
Pricing:
- Solo/chamber fees depend on time, type of setting, type of repertoire requested, and occasion/venue. Contact me for more details.
- Violin/theory/masterclass fees depend on time and level of student(s), and if I have to travel to teach or if a student visits my home. I offer discounts for things such as artistic promise and if a household has two or more students that study with me. Contact me for more details.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christian-gonzales.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christiangonzalesviolin/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@christiangonzalesviolin
- Other: https://linktr.ee/christiangonzales
Image Credits
Official headshot by Luna Suzuki.
