Dr. Wilke performs widely, having given solo recitals in Italy and Germany as well as throughout the United States. On several occasions, he lectured at the Guitar Foundation of America's Convention and the American Musicological Association's Annual Meeting. He has done live on-air performances and interviews for WGUC, WNKU, WVXU WOSU, and WXXI radio stations. His recordings have been featured on Concertzender radio in the Netherlands, on Canadian Television, and the NPR programs, Classical Guitar Alive! and Sunday Morning Baroque. He was invited to contribute guitar tracks to the Ring and Ring II compilation albums. Wilke performed for the Lute Society of America's "Emerging Artist Series" and later gave a solo recital at the Boston Early Music Festival. Other notable appearances include a performance with the Columbus (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra and solo concerts at the European Lute Festival in Fuessen, Germany and the Lute Society of America's Festival.
Christopher Wilke developed a love for music early in life. As a child he began to compose music before he’d even learned to play an instrument by placing pieces of tape on the keys of his mother’s piano on which he’d written ciphers of his own devising. In high school he took up the electric guitar and bass and played in several bands.
He went on to study guitar and composition at the College of Mt. St. Joseph followed by a Master’s degree in classical guitar from the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music where he also took composition courses and was introduced to performing early music on original instruments. He recently completed his doctorate in Early Music Performance at the Eastman School of Music, where his advisor was the renowned lutenist, Paul O'Dette.
A dedicated teacher, Dr. Wilke has taught guitar, lute, and directed ensembles at Nazareth College in Rochester NY, The State University of New York at Geneseo, Xavier University in Cincinnati OH, Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, KY and Marshall University in Huntington, WV. In addition to teaching many private lessons and ensembles, Wilke also founded Early Music Ensembles and a large Guitar Orchestra. Several of his compositions have been published by Les Productions d'Oz in Montreal.
