Fifteen year-old Christopher Pell began playing clarinet at age nine in his native Atlanta, Georgia. He had already been playing piano for three years when he was encouraged to take up woodwind with his school band.
In addition to his musical studies in Atlanta, Christopher spent four summers at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where he won concerto competitions, and was the recipient of awards and recognitions in piano and clarinet. He also spent one summer at Luzerne Music Center in upstate New York, and attended Tanglewood's Young Artist's Orchestra this past summer.
Upon moving to New York City for middle school, Christopher was accepted into the public/private school, The Special Music School. The unique curriculum of the school offered daily academic studies alongside music history and theory, private music lessons, and performances throughout the city. Currently, he is a sophomore at LaGuardia Arts High School. As a music major, Christopher is involved in daily orchestra, band, and theory. He lives in Riverdale, and enjoys playing basketball in his spare time.
In 2005 Christopher was a prize winner of Friday Woodmere Competition. Last spring he won the young artist competitions for Bronx Arts Ensemble, he recently was a finalist at the Blount-Slawson Young Artist Competition, and won the concerto competitions at LaGuardia Arts High School and Juilliard Pre-College Division. At present, Christopher is a fourth year student of the Pre-College Division and is a pupil of Ayako Oshima Neidich.