It was a privilege to have known Chris, who joined my MMus class in September 2017\. He had just started postgraduate studies in London at the Royal College of Music. Chris stood out, even amongst his talented peers, because of the considerable musical and life experiences he had already accrued. He was always supportive of his…
Chris, you messaged me out of the blue one day on Facebook, we’d only really exchanged a few ‘hellos’ in person before then and I didn’t really know who you were. It just goes to show how much you had a hunger to share life with people, to meet people and be caring and kind…
I first met Chris at the University of Music “Franz Liszt” in Weimar, Germany where I studied Jazz Vocal Performance and Composition / Arranging. Chris was my lecturer in English diction and speech training. His lessons were hands on and practical, but what´s more he was vivid, lively, friendly and radiating with honesty, authenticity and…
Dear Zeke, I can’t believe you’re no longer with us here, on earth. I don’t know why God needed to summon you to the other side of Life now. I will remain forever grateful for your friendship, which enriched my Dartmouth days and continued beyond the Hanover campus. I still remember catching a glimpse of…
Though I haven’t seen Christopher in many years, I have a memory of how he could light up a room and make you feel so special when he greeted you. Clearly an angelic force on earth recalled to the heavenly realms so abruptly to continue his work. ❤️
Christopher was a shining example of Brene Brown’s “wholehearted living.” He was love! He was an influential person in my life who opened the doors of understanding to the world around me. Thank you for teaching me about feminism, social activism, and the opera. He has inspirationally packed so much life into his tragically short…
Christopher was to have joined us in Norfolk to conduct the Yorke Trust’s summer opera production of Handel’s Jephtha this year after a stunningly successful Come & Sing Mozart’s Requiem day in February, and Jennifer Hamilton’s memorable production of Purcell’s The Tempest last July. Members of our community chorus, seasoned amateurs and those new to…
Over the last thirty years I have taught thousands of students, a few of them have left a warm imprint on my heart. Christopher was one of these students. We muddled through eight and ninth grade math together. Christopher was witty, brilliant and had a light-up-the-room smile. He was generous with his hugs and they…
Nothing I can say seems adequate to describe the sense of loss I feel. Perhaps the following recommendation that I once wrote will help to describe some of Christopher’s unique qualities: Recommendation for Christopher McMullen-Laird 28 June 2007 Christopher McMullen-Laird is a force of nature. I can only hope that this sincere recommendation does not…
Dear Chris, Those vibrant and energetic blue eyes caught me from the first time and will never be forgotten. You could see in them the passion, warmth, energy, aliveness, wisdom and desire that Chris had for everything he did. Every encounter with him was a source of inspiration, a learning experience, not only on how…