Chris Vitas has performed with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Starlight Theatre, the Old Globe Theatre, Lamb‘s Players Theatre, Pacific Chamber Opera, San Diego Repertory Theatre and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. He performs on record albums, CDs, motion picture soundtracks, and radio and television commercials. Chris has also shared the stage with such celebrities as Lyle Lovett, Robert Plant and Jimmie Page, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, the Moody Blues, Johnny Mathis, Frankie Lane, Tony Bennet, John Tesh, David Benoit, among others.
Chris performs solo electric violin on the album Water, Wind and Stone by Checkfield and has appeared with them at the 1990 Catalina Jazz Trax Festival. Chris’ first Keltik Kharma® album featured original and traditional New Age Celtic compositions. The second album, Keltik Kharma® 2, focuses on traditional Irish tunes with emphasis on heavy rhythmic elements and improvisation. Chris also has a CD with internationally known jazz guitarist Art Johnson, rhythm guitarist Robert Cartwright, and renowned bassist Bob Magnusson, Django’s Echo. The Cool Club Quartet, as the group is known, performs music in the style of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, well-known European jazz artists from the Thirties. Chris also performs regularly with another jazz band, The Hot Club of San Diego, featuring guitarist Patrick Berrogain, and Celticana, a Celtic group featuring singer Lauren Morris. Chris has also taught jazz violin at Grossmont College, and instrumental music with the Santee School District in San Diego County.
Chris performs on a 6-string electric Viper violin made by Mark Wood, an acoustic violin made by Scott Cao, and on a 5-string NS violin made by NS Design.
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