Christopher D’Amato

Christopher is a New Jersey-based pianist, organist, and music educator. His greatest joy is sharing music with others, most especially through music education. As a teacher, Christopher strives to cultivate a learning environment where every child’s musical and individual background, interests, and experiences are valued. Through a collaborative and student-led approach, he empowers students to become active participants in their own learning and growth. Christopher is the PreK–8 Music Teacher at Chancellor Avenue School in Newark, NJ.

In addition to his work in public education, Christopher is an in-demand private piano teacher with a vibrant and diverse studio of all ages and abilities, ranging from 3 to 83. His passion for music education and piano pedagogy began in 2017 when he started teaching privately. Since then, he has taught nearly 100 students, with many earning first-place awards in performance and composition competitions. His studio now spans across the United States and internationally, reaching students in Europe and Asia through virtual instruction. Additionally, Christopher teaches music theory and organ, and mentors new and aspiring piano teachers, guiding them in launching and growing their own studios with confidence. He also teaches with Piano Teachers Connect, The Royal Conservatory of Music, and is a Steinway Educational Partner. He is a recipient of the 2023 Best of Watchung Award in the Piano Instructor category and the 2024 and 2025 Top Pro Awards.

Beyond the classroom and studio, Christopher serves as the Director of Music and Organist at St. Joseph Church in North Plainfield, NJ, and substitutes regularly as a keyboardist at churches across NJ and NYC. He works as a freelance musician in the Tri-State area and is active as a performer and private hire for weddings, receptions, and other events.

His performance career has included appearances at venues such as Steinway Hall (NYC), Cary Hall (NYC), and Leshowitz Recital Hall (Montclair, NJ). He has earned recognition in international piano competitions, most recently placing second in the 2024 Romantic Music Competition (Charleston International Piano Competition) and being named a finalist in the Music International Grand Prix Solo Competition. Christopher frequently collaborates with local artists in chamber performances and serves as a vocal and choral accompanist in a variety of settings. He has also performed as a keyboardist with The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey and has given invited lecture recitals, most recently on the life and music of J.S. Bach. International engagements include performances and study in Athens, London, and Leipzig. Christopher has collaborated with world–renowned artists such as John Rutter, VOCES8, The New Jersey Symphony, The Oxford Philharmonic, The Athens Philharmonia Orchestra, Jeeyoon Kim, and others.

Christopher holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University, where he studied piano with Dr. David Witten and Dr. Fei-Fei Dong, and organ with Dr. John Miller. He also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Montclair State University. His academic interests and research focus on multicultural music education, informal learning, and ethnomusicology. His scholarly achievements include the Thomas J. Randazzo Music Scholarship Award (2022) and the Music Teachers National Association Award (2024).

Christopher is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, Music Teachers National Association, New Jersey Music Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association, The Royal Conservatory of Music, and The American Guild of Organists.

Aside from music, Christopher’s greatest passions include traveling the world, exploring cultures, and nature/wildlife photography and immersion…

Christopher D’Amato Photography