Biography

Christopher Jessup is a multi award-winning composer and pianist recognized for his “imaginative handling of atmosphere” [Fanfare] and his “refined and eloquent” performances [New York Concert Review]. A graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School, Jessup has collaborated with some of the world’s most esteemed orchestras, choirs, and soloists. He has concertized at distinguished venues across the globe, garnering acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Highly regarded as both a composer and performer, Jessup is one of the foremost musicians of his generation.

Jessup’s works have been performed and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, the Brno Contemporary Orchestra, the Juilliard Orchestra, multi GRAMMY® Award-winning choir The Crossing, the Kühn Choir of Prague, the National Sawdust Ensemble, Nadia Shpachenko, Allison Brewster Franzetti, Brett Deubner, Kevin Zhu, Lindsey Goodman, and countless others. Jessup’s 2024-25 season includes a premiere at Carnegie Hall, an album release, and a work to be performed by the New York Virtuoso Singers. Jessup’s music is commercially released on the GRAMMY® Award-winning Navona Records label, and his works are published by Noten Roehr Frankfurt. Jessup has won critical acclaim in The New York Times, Gramophone, Pianist Magazine, and other reputable publications. He is a recipient of the American Prize in Composition, a National Sawdust BluePrint Fellowship, two Global Music Awards, and two Clouzine International Music Awards. 

As a pianist, Jessup has performed at notable venues around the world, including nearly a dozen performances at Carnegie Hall. He has also appeared as a soloist with orchestras in North America and Europe. In addition to performing recitals of standard classical repertoire, Jessup frequently premieres his own works as well.

Jessup studied at The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Melinda Wagner and world-renowned pianist Jerome Lowenthal. He currently resides in New York City.