


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 with Michael Fiday and Robert Denham. 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.
Currently, Dr. Wilke teaches at Nazareth College in Rochster, NY. Formerly, he headed guitar
studies at 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 coaching guitar ensemble, Wilke also founded an Early Music
Ensemble and a large Guitar Orchestra.
He taught classes in other music related subjects as well. Several of his compositions have been published by Les Productions d'Oz in Montreal.