Christopher Powell is the Director of Sacred Music and Organist at the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown in Libertyville, IL. He and his wife, Demi moved to the area from Alabama in 2022. From 2014 to 2021, Christopher served as Music Director and Organist at Christ Church Cathedral in Mobile, AL, and from 2009 to 2014, he was Director of Music Ministries at Saint Paul Catholic Church in Pensacola, Florida. Also active in the world of Jewish music, Christopher served as the Anthony and Alma Fisher Music Director at Springhill Avenue Temple in Mobile, AL from 2018 until 2022.
Christopher studied organ performance at The Juilliard School with Paul Jacobs and at the University of West Florida with Lynne Lauderdale.
Also a composer, Christopher holds a diploma with honors in harmony from the European American Musical Alliance’s Nadia Boulanger Summer Institute, where he was a student of David Conte. Christopher is also the recipient of silver and bronze medals in composition from the Global Music Awards competition. His work ranges from opera to functional liturgical music.
As a collaborative pianist, Christopher has worked with singers and instrumentalists in rehearsal and recital and served on faculty at Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL. His experience includes serving as répétiteur for professional and university productions, and working as a staff pianist for the University of Mobile and Mobile Opera in Mobile, AL. Christopher has also served as a staff pianist for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).
When not at the organ, Christopher enjoys painting, bike rides, and gigging with his wife as house entertainers for Cellar 26 restaurant in Green Oaks, IL.