Paola Hopp

Passing along this memory on behalf of Bill Summers’s, Zeke’s Senior Fellowship advisor at Dartmouth: A great shadow has darkened the sky.  The birds have begun their silent mourning.  They sense the powerful moment of someone’s passing.  Nature knows another spirit has retired from the earth, and we who remain behind veil our faces as…

In the few times I saw Chris when he visited the Croydon Music and Arts centre to conduct our orchestra, I distinctly remember his advice, positive manner and sense of humour. He was an inspiring conductor, and we genuinely looked forward to seeing him in the future.

I remember hearing about Christopher long before I met him, which was during the late 90s. At the time, I was Purple’s voice teacher and lived just down the street from the McMullen-Laird family. I taught quite a number of Steiner School students and Christopher’s reputation definitely preceded him! He had been described to me…

September 2004: first time I met you, joyfully welcoming me at Dartmouth. January 2020: last time I hugged you, after celebrating my mother’s Befana in Italy. In between, too much for now, but I’ll share more. I’m shocked and I cry. Romeo is not informed, but he asked me: “Mamma, hai bisogno di un’abbracciatona?”. I’m splitting it…

Dear Chris, I will never forget our collaborating, you were such an incredible musician and friend. Thank you for the memories. Rest in peace Christopher, Bo

Christopher entered our lives last year when he came to Norfolk to conduct the Yorke Trust’s summer opera, The Tempest. On our journey from the station when he told me the choristers would be singing the opera choruses from memory, it didn’t seem achievable. I soon discovered that through Chris’ absolute belief in peoples’ abilities,…