COMPOSER OF THE MONTH (October 2025)
Christopher Goldston
Christopher Goldston (b.1972) is a composer, pianist, and music teacher. He is well known for the engaging music he writes for piano students of all ages and levels. He also writes music for voice and chamber ensembles. Chris has a piano studio in Chicago where he teaches in person and online piano lessons. In addition, Chris teaches composition and offers training for music teachers. He is a popular clinician and guest artist for music groups and music teacher conferences across the United States.
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Chris is coming to EKS in January 2026! Stay tuned for more info.
🎶 Chris’s first piece, “Night Train,” written in college, won an award!
💡 Recognize your RCM piece “SparklingBrook”? The composer, Margaret Goldston, is actually his mom!
📝 Chris records short musical ideas all the time, while his mom jotted hers in notebooks. Some of her sketches became the start of his own pieces!
- “Circus Tumblers,” elementary piano
- “Night Train,” intermediate piano
- “The Great Smokies,” intermediate piano suite
- “Lamentations,” 3 late intermediate piano solos
- “Toccata,” advanced piano
- “Four Virtues,” intermediate trio for oboe, violin or saxophone, and piano
Advice for student composers
🎧 Listen to “a ton of music” — classical, modern, unconventional, and inspiring.
🧩 Use clear form & catchy motifs so it makes sense and sticks.
🤝 Share drafts, get feedback, try suggestions.
🔍 Focus on the details—dynamics, articulation, phrasing—not just notes & rhythm.
- Chris feels the biggest influence on his compositional style was listening to classical music all the time, especially 20th century works and diverse ensembles – not just piano.
- Advice from his mom: write in a variety of styles, use patterns, and play your music to see if it falls easily under the fingers.
