:: THE EARLY YEARS ::
Music has certainly been a driving force
in Christian Frederick's life. His musical journey begins as a toddler,
with the memory of sitting on the piano bench in his parent's Los
Angeles apartment, reaching up and banging the piano keys endlessly.
At the age of seven, Mom and Dad started him with classical piano
lessons from the neighborhood piano teacher.
Christian's school years were filled with music…music…music! During those
years, he played the guitar, clarinet and saxophone, sang in the school
choirs, and even played the sousaphone in the Tournament Of Roses Parade.
During his senior year in high school, he was accepted into Southern
California Youth Chorale's Musical Americans and performed throughout Southern California, The Soviet Union, Western Europe and Japan. This set the stage for a long musical career.
:: THE PROFESSIONAL YEARS ::
Christian Frederick's first steady gig was in 1974 playing ragtime piano at Shakey's Pizza Parlor. In 1976 he was the ragtime pianist at Busch Gardens, Los Angeles, and the following summer he performed at Knott's Berry Farm. Also during that period he played piano at the very famous Clearman's North Woods Inns throughout the Los Angeles area.
Life changed dramatically in 1979 when Chris accepted a full time position to play piano at Walt Disney World in Florida. He explains "back in the 70's and 80's, there was an incredible array of venues with great musicians at Walt Disney World. This environment inspired me to grow as an artist."
Christian began his Disney career as pianist for the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue in Fort Wilderness and as ragtime pianist on Main Street U.S.A in The Magic Kingdom. He also started growing in other musical directions. By 1984 he was learning how to play the harp, and within a few years was playing professionally. Christian's pianistic styles were also expanding, and soon he was performing both piano and harp throughout Central Florida and Walt Disney World hotels.
Christian currently plays both solo piano and solo harp five evenings a week at Disney's flagship resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. He also performs at numerous weddings, conventions, social gathering and corporate events in the Central Florida Area.
Christian particularly enjoys playing harp with The Walt Disney World Orchestra at EPCOT, is a regular guest artist for The Gift Of Music concert series at The Villages in Lady Lake, Florida, and recently performed in the Josh Groban concert tour (2004) in West Palm Beach and Miami.
|
|
THE DAILY SUN:
"As it was, they [the audience] left exhilarated and awed by the performer and performance. So many notes, so little time-but Frederick managed to get them all in…"
|
|
|
|
Quote from a fan:
"The harpist, Christian Frederick, was so very talented that he took my breath away. I promptly bought three of his CDs after dinner."
(Excerpts from a guest letter at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, February 15, 2005)
|
|
|
|
