Bio
Chris was born in Victoria, British Columbia, and spent his youth playing music. He began piano lessons at the age of eight, and took up the trombone in middle school. "One day in 8th grade I heard Colin James on the radio, and loved the guitar solo. I knew I had to play like that!" For his 14th birthday, his parents bought him a Yamaha guitar, and he never looked back. Soon he was listening to Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Pat Metheny. "My first guitar teacher was Rob Cheramy, one of the finest musicians and teachers I've ever known. I would be nowhere without Rob."
Chris continued to play guitar during his high school years, and formed a rock group called "The Price Is Right." "It was a lot of fun," says Peterson, "I got to play rock songs that I wanted to play and some originals too. I was finally able to relax on stage and let loose." At the same time, Chris played both guitar and trombone in the Victoria Conservatory of Music Jazz Big Band, where he honed his reading and chordal skills. After high school, he moved on to become the first graduate of a new Camosun College Jazz Diploma program in Victoria. At the same time, Chris taught private guitar lessons with Rob Cheramy at his Cheramy Guitar & Vocals music studio, and at the Long & McQuade Music Education Centre in Victoria. "Teaching never felt like a job. It was always fun to help the students learn to play the music they wanted to play."
Despite the great players and teaching gigs in Victoria, Chris felt he needed to improve his musical skills further. Chris accepted a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston, and spent the next three years completing his Bachelors of Music Degree with a major in Performance. Chris was exposed to types and styles of music in Boston, and was fortunate to play with many great students and teachers during his time there. Chris studied with such notables as Scott Tarulli, Julien Kasper, John Baboian, Bret Willmott, Joe Stump and Don Lappin. Chris made the Dean's List at Berklee each of the six semesters he was there, and graduated Summa Cum Laude (Top Honours). "Berklee was a humbling and exhilarating experience. I learned more than I ever thought possible there. The friends and teachers I studied with there were truly incredible. I'm thankful for the opportunity to attend there, but even more thankful to my parents for their love and support of my musical endeavors throughout my life."
Chris is now based in Toronto, Ontario where, in addition to writing, performing and recording his original music, he teaches guitar lessons as well.
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