Meet Christopher Jessup

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christopher Jessup a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Christopher, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I’ve always had a strong work ethic, driven by a constant desire to grow and improve. My goals are ambitious, and reaching them requires countless hours of focused effort. In music, there are no shortcuts—lasting rewards come only through dedication, persistence, and hard work.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a composer and pianist based in New York City whose works are recognized for their evocative power and vivid imagery, often inspired by poetry, astronomy, and philosophy. My dual path as a performer and composer is deeply intertwined—my extensive background as a pianist continually informs my compositional voice. I studied at The Juilliard School under Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Melinda Wagner and legendary pianist Jerome Lowenthal, building a foundation that continues to shape my artistry. My music has been performed and recorded worldwide by leading ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Juilliard Orchestra, and the multi GRAMMY® Award-winning choir The Crossing. As a pianist, I have appeared throughout North America and Europe, with highlights including multiple performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and National Sawdust. My work has appeared in The New York Times, Gramophone, Billboard, Fanfare Magazine, and New York Concert Review, among others. I have been honored with recognition from ASCAP, the American Prize, the Respighi Prize, and National Sawdust. Recent career highlights include an orchestral album release with the London Symphony Orchestra, the recording of my choral cycle Astronomia by The Crossing, and the premiere of a new work in Los Angeles. Upcoming projects include performances at Carnegie Hall and Merkin Hall, a new orchestral commission for the GRAMMY® Award-winning Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, a recording with the New York Virtuoso Singers, and premieres of works for leading soloists including Bree Nichols, Lindsey Goodman, and Clare Longendyke. Music has always been my calling, and I remain passionate about creating work that resonates deeply with audiences while continuing to expand my artistic reach.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three qualities that have shaped me most are resilience, bravery, and the determination to follow my own path. Resilience comes from facing challenges head-on and overcoming them; each obstacle conquered builds self-belief and proves that you can endure and grow stronger. Bravery is forged by stepping into fear—once you do the thing that terrifies you, it loses its power and gives you the confidence to take on even greater challenges. True growth only happens outside your comfort zone, and pushing through fear is essential for building both courage and confidence. Finally, I’ve learned not to let others’ doubts define me. People have told me my goals were too ambitious or that I wasn’t good enough—but I refuse to listen. Instead, I channel that skepticism into fuel, prove them wrong, and accomplish the very things they thought were impossible. My ambition never wavers.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I try to remind myself to take things one step at a time. It’s easy to look at everything you want to accomplish and feel paralyzed by the weight of it all. But if you break it down into small, manageable steps, it becomes less daunting. I’ve also learned that it’s okay not to have everything figured out right away—progress is still progress, even if it feels slow. As a composer and pianist, I spend countless hours working toward ambitious goals, and it can sometimes feel like too much. What helps me is focusing on why I started in the first place: the love of creating, of performing, of sharing something meaningful with others. Reconnecting with that passion always grounds me. So my advice would be: give yourself grace, take things one step at a time, and don’t lose sight of the reason you’re doing it all. That reminder can transform overwhelm into motivation.

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