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Christopher Lape is an orchestra director at Upper Arlington High School in Columbus, Ohio, where he works with seven high school orchestras and assists at two middle schools. He was previously the orchestra director at UA Jones Middle School, where he also served as the music department chair. Mr. Lape was recently selected as a Yamaha “40 Under 40” Music Educator in 2024. He was a recipient of the Upper Arlington Civic Association’s Golden Apple Award in 2022 and recognized as the 2020 Ohio String Teacher of the Year by the Ohio String Teachers Association.
Prior to teaching in Upper Arlington, Mr. Lape was the orchestra director at Dublin Sells Middle School and the Director of Orchestras for the Newark City School District. From 2014-2021, he was the Music Director of the Newark-Granville Chamber Strings. He has also been an orchestra director at the Ohio State Morning String Student Workshop.
Mr. Lape is an active adjudicator, clinician, and guest artist. He has presented at the professional conferences of the American String Teachers Association and the Ohio Music Education Association, with whom he maintains active memberships. Mr. Lape was a clinician and the lead administrator for the Ohio State String Teacher Workshop. He currently serves on the board of the Ohio String Teachers Association, chair of the OMEA South-Central Region, co-chair of the OSTA District 15 Middle School Honors Orchestra, and co-chair of the Central Ohio String Festival.
As a professional musician, Mr. Lape performs regularly around Central Ohio. He is a founding member of the Bryden String Quartet and performs with other area chamber ensembles. He frequently performs with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and is principal violist of the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Lape received undergraduate degrees in violin performance and music education from The Ohio State University. He earned his master’s degree in viola performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, with additional studies as a fellowship student at the Aspen Music Festival and School. His teachers have included Betsey Lape, Elva Newdome, Michael Davis, Dr. Robert Gillespie, Dr. Kia-Hui Tan, Dr. Catherine Carroll-Lees, and Masao Kawasaki.
The Wright State University School of Fine and Performing Arts will host its fourth annual Fall Strings Festival for high school students on October 3-5, 2024. This event will showcase the wealth of young performing talent in Southwestern and Central Ohio.
Students will gather for three days of coaching and rehearsals, and they will perform in a Festival Orchestra alongside Wright State string majors. Wright State String Faculty members will coach students in sectionals and masterclasses, and our guest conductor will conduct the Festival Orchestra rehearsals and concert.
Calling all festival students! The Wright State University String Faculty invite participation in a solo competition for high school students registered for our 5th Annual Fall Strings Festival. The competition will take place on the last day of the festival, Saturday, October 5, 2023, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Recital Hall. Wright State String Faculty will act as judges. The winner will be announced shortly after the competition and be invited to perform their solo movement or piece at the Saturday, October 5 afternoon final concert.
On the Friday of the Fall Strings Festival, we invite area string teachers to join us for a day of professional development. This will include clinics with Wright State faculty and guest artists and time to observe or sit in on a Festival Orchestra rehearsal. Lunch is included and the day is free to all participants.
The 2024 Professional Development presenters will include guest conductor Chris Lape, Felipe Morales-Torres, Vinnie Marshall, Joel Thompson, and Alex Moore, leading a teacher discussion panel.
To register for the String Teacher Professional Development Day, teachers should email Bill Jobert, coordinator of music education at william.jobert@wright.edu.
Joel Thompson is a luthier residing in Springboro, Ohio where he operates his violin shop, “Side Door Strings”. He earned his bachelor's in cello performance from Wright State University as well as a certificate from the Chicago School of Violin Making.
His eleven years of experience in lutherie has included work with the Viola da Gamba Society of America as well as apprenticeships and employment with reputable violin shops in Chicago and Cincinnati. When not rehairing bows or making instruments, Joel performs with his band “Scrimshaw” at the Irish Heritage Center of Greater Cincinnati and various local pubs.
The registration fee is $50 and is non-refundable. Fees are payable online.
For more information, contact Dr. Franklin Cox at franklin.cox@wright.edu or Bill Jobert at william.jobert@wright.edu
Download and complete the Medical Release Form (PDF) and bring it with you to the festival.
Registration is online. Payment can be made by Mastercard, Visa, Discover, or webCheck.
Time | Activity |
---|---|
Thursday, October 5 | |
3:30 to 5 p.m. | Check-In, Seating Auditions with Wright State faculty |
5 to 6:30 p.m. | Festival Orchestra side-by-side rehearsal and Wright State faculty |
6:30 to 7:15 p.m. | Pizza dinner |
7:15 to 8:45 p.m. | Festival Orchestra rehearsal |
Friday, October 6 | |
9 to 11 a.m. | Festival Orchestra Rehearsal |
11 a.m. to Noon | Sectionals with WSU String Faculty |
Noon to 1:30 p.m. | Lunch at the Student Union |
1:30 to 2:45 p.m. |
Festival Orchestra Rehearsal |
3 to 4 p.m. | Wright State String Faculty Recital |
4:15 to 6:15 p.m. | Festival Orchestra rehearsal |
Saturday, October 7 | |
9 to 11 a.m. | Festival Orchestra rehearsal |
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. | Masterclasses with Wright State String Faculty |
12:15 to 1:30 p.m. | Grilled Cheese lunch hosted by Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity |
1:30 to 2:30 p.m. | Festival Orchestra Dress Rehearsal |
3 p.m. | Festival Orchestra Concert |
Finding the right college means finding the right fit. See all that the College of Liberal Arts has to offer by visiting campus.