Christopher Rude

A work in progress...

Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Christopher Rude is one of the area's most experienced guitarists. In 1990, after four years of traveling and studying music in Europe, Christopher returned to the U.S. and started a small private studio in Winter Park, Colorado. After a few years, he moved to the La Crosse area to study guitar at the University of Wisconsin under Dr. Richard Pinnell. Upon Cum Laude completion of his Bachelor's degree in Guitar Performance, he was invited to pursue a Master's degree at the Lamont School of Music in Denver, where he was awarded multiple scholarships and completed two teaching assistantships under world-renowned maestro Ricardo Iznaola. 

In addition to performing in many solo and ensemble concerts and recitals, Christopher has entertained professionally for many years. Throughout the 1990's, he collaborated with local artists in La Crosse, providing vocals and guitar for rock and acoustic ensembles. At the same time, the classical guitarist began refining his craft as resident artist, performing weekly in Picasso's Cafe at the Sampson Art Gallery. His seasoning continued at the Inverness Hotel and Resort in Denver, where he was engaged to perform every night for affluent guests of the Resort's AAA Four-Diamond marquee restaurant, The Swan (now, Baca). Over the years, Christopher has also been in demand at weddings, receptions, celebrations, corporate events, fund-raisers and wine tasting events, consistently drawing equal praise for both his polished artistic style and his guest-oriented professional demeanor.

As a student of the classical guitar, Christopher has participated in and attended lessons, performances and master classes offered by a long list of world-class performing artists including Christopher Parkening, Manuel Barrueco, Paul Galbraith, Sergio and Odair Assad, Sharon Isbin, Javier Calderon, Masakazu Ito, Makita Kushkin, Jonathan Leathwood, Nuccio D'Angelo, Lorenzo Micheli and John Feeley. The influences of these masters on Christopher's development as a skilled and refined artist and teacher are undeniable.

Above and beyond his training as a guitarist, Christopher has also earned certification and substantial experience as a professional educator in two subjects. He served for five years as full-time Choir Director and general music teacher for two inner city schools in the Denver area, receiving his Colorado K-12 Music teaching certification from the Metropolitan State College of Denver.  In 2008, Christopher also became certified by the state of Wisconsin to teach both Music and Spanish, and subsequently spent 5 years teaching Spanish at Melrose-Mindoro High School.    In 2009, he served as director of guitar instruction at the Luther College Summer Music Program in Decorah, IA, where he delivered guitar classes and individual instruction to some of the area's most gifted young musicians.

After a 5 year sabbatical from public teaching, Christopher returned to Melrose-Mindoro High School in 2017 to resume his public teaching career.  He taught both publically and privately until fall, 2020.  With the Covid-19 crisis pushing much of the private lesson ndustry on-line, Christopher chose to finally close his teaching studio at Reed Music.  He continues to record music and still performs regularly at wineries, weddings, corporate gatherings, and private functions.

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