Fornearly four decades, cellist Christopher Costanza has enjoyed a varied andexciting career as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. A winner of theYoung Concert Artists International Auditions and a recipient of a prestigiousSolo Recitalists Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Mr. Costanzahas performed to wide critical acclaim throughout the U.S., Canada, SouthAmerica, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. “Mr. Costanza demonstratedan unaffected, graceful approach to phrasing, a rugged, fearless technique,and, when necessary, and energetic headlong approach,” proclaimed the New York Times.And, from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, praise for a recent performance ofBach’s Unaccompanied Suites: “Costanzarevealed himself to be a thoughtful interpreter as well as a technician of nosmall skill. Tempos were brisk but never rushed, and dynamics were carefullymeasured. In the Courante, Costanza demonstrated a nice continuity of bowing,while the Sarabande became in his hands an introspective but eloquent song. Heused the lightest of touches in the subsequent Minuets and brought aninfectious rhythmic impulse to the concluding Gigue.”

Mr. Costanza, a graduate ofthe New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, actively toured as the cellistof the St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ) from 2003-2023. His current musicalactivities include solo performances and varied chamber music collaborations,including cycles of the complete Bach Unaccompanied Cello Suites at thePhillips Collection in Washington, DC, at Stanford University, and otherlocations; the complete Britten Cello Suites presented as a cycle; acollaboration with the Stanford Chamber Chorale on tour in Hawaii; solo andchamber music performances at multiple California Bay Area venues; and aconcerto tour of France with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Mr.Costanza enjoys giving pre-concert lectures, presenting informalconcert/lectures, and writing about music.

 Mr. Costanza is a full-timeArtist in Residence at Stanford University, where he teaches cello and chambermusic, serves as the Associate Director of Music for the Stanford MedicalHumanities and Arts program, and performs concerts and gives lectures acrosscampus. His recordings are readily available on Apple Music and Spotify,including several with the SLSQ. Mr. Costanza’s recording of the Six Suites forSolo Cello by J.S. Bach can be streamed on his website, costanzacello.com.

In addition to his variedmusical interests, Mr. Costanza is an avid runner and hiker. A trainenthusiast, he enjoys riding and exploring passenger railways while on tour. Athome in California, he is passionate about cooking, creating dishes that takeadvantage of the abundance of organic local produce.

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