In the present, I continue to live an eclectic life as a musician, teacher, scholar, producer, and conductor based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. This website is an active snapshot of my professional-life-in-progress as I experience the world through these five lenses. Many of my interests grow organically through the various music-oriented endeavours I get involved in: music making, teaching, learning, producing, and conducting are all part of the same continuum. Sometimes, these interests take on lives of their own.
As a lifelong learner, I stretch my boundaries and challenge myself in both formal and informal learning and working situations. I adapt readily to change, seek opportunities to further my growth, and apply a balance of critical and creative thinking to my endeavors. My aim is to draw and apply ideas from various fields and disciplines to bear on a variety of present projects. I believe that anything worth doing in life is worth doing well, and this allows me to practice prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. The rewards are intrinsic. Still, I submit that life has much to offer and teach me. So, I live as honestly and as sincerely as possible. And, I remain faith filled and open minded while always seeking balance.
I was born and raised in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and I recognize that my supportive upbringing and my surrounding environment have allowed me to pursue and realize my goals and dreams. Therefore, the aim of my work, through service, with humility, and in charity, is to promote peace, awareness, and understanding by encouraging, accompanying, and empowering the people with whom I work to act, pursue, and realize their own goals and dreams. In turn, my hope is that they will come to recognize that their gifts are meant for the service of others. After three decades [and counting!] of existence on this Earth, I am most grateful for these opportunities to share my work.
Most of the items posted within this website are archives for my work. Included are completed projects, past gigs, courses I have taken, and other miscellany and tangents that I find curious. A grad school professor encouraged me to write and I use this medium to reflect upon my experiences and my journey through my professional life. These expressions continually remind me to never take for granted that I am blessed to do what I do and to never forget to thank all of the people who have helped or have guided me along the way. As much as many of these reflections look back, surprisingly, they also guide future directions and indicate possible areas of study. As you browse through the site, you may find my reflections rather lengthy and wordy. That’s alright, because I do too! For a chronological reflection on my life, written shamelessly in the third person, please click here.
Aside from my artistic and academic pursuits, I am a voracious but slow and systematic reader. I prefer verity over fiction. In particular, I enjoy reading about writers on writing, hockey coach and teacher auto/biographies, and musician memoirs. Academic tomes on the history, philosophy, and sociology of music education; Critical Pedagogy and Critical Theory; Catholic education, campus ministry, and youth spirituality; and the history of Gregorian Chant, chironomy, and liturgical music, also tickle my fancy. Visits to used bookstores are frequent.
On the lighter side of life, my wife, my family, and my friends keep me well grounded and sane. I am an avid Vancouver Canucks fan no matter where I live. I enjoy learning about Philippine culture, cuisine, and cooking; trying to better understand United States society while maintaining my Canadian identity, eh; watching indie documentaries and foreign flicks; and keeping fit. I raw code websites using principles of simple and clean web design. Verdana is my favourite font and I use it every chance I get. While I abstain from alcohol and I have zero tolerance for drug use, I am horribly addicted to bubble tea. To make up for it all, I wail my cares away by picking up the bass guitar in my studio and by improvising excessively in the saddest of all keys ... D minor.
Finally, I am always plotting devious ways of fusing older with newer ways of thinking. As a result, if you catch me on a good day, you'll get a chance to hear about my latest wacky project or crazy idea! But, as a bumper sticker once read, 'Don't start vast projects with half-vast ideas!' ;)
I hope you enjoy your visit to my little corner of the web world. Click around and stay awhile. Welcome!
Chris Trinidad | 21 August 2010 + amdg
