Chris Frey

Chris Frey

Section Cellist, Peoria Symphony Orchestra

Chris was born in suburban St. Louis on Feb. 22, 1974. He began his music studies on the violin at the age of 7. He studied with his mother; a violinist. After a year, he traveled (along with his younger sister and brother) to Edwardsville, IL to study Suzuki method with John Kendall and several of his students. He switched to the cello at the age of 10 because frankly, he got tired of standing in his Suzuki classes. By the age of 14 Chris was performing with several St. Louis orchestras including Parkway West High School Orchestra, St. Louis All-Suburban Orchestra, CASA Young People's Orchestra, Alton Symphony and the Jacksonville Symphony. Later in High School he performed with the St. Louis Youth Symphony and the St. Louis Philharmonic. The Frey Family Quartet [his mother (violin), sister (violin), brother (viola) and himself] performed for many weddings, anniversary parties, banquets, corporate events and art exhibits across the metropolitan St. Louis area.

In 1991 Chris was awarded the Emerson Electric Governor's Scholarship for the state of Missouri to Interlochen Arts Camp. There he played in the World Youth Symphony Orchestra under such batons as Maxim Shostakovich, Larry Rachleff, and Neeme Jarve. In winter of 1992 he was asked to join 3 other Governor's Scholars to perform at a reception in Washington D.C. for all of the Governors at the annual Governors’ Convention; where he had the honor of meeting John Ashcroft and Bill Clinton.

Chris began his college career at Illinois Wesleyan University in 1992 as a cello performance major studying with Barbara Hedlund. During his tenure at IWU he performed with the Illinois Wesleyan Civic Orchestra, and subbed with the Peoria Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Galesburg Symphony and Heartland Philharmonic. He also had the opportunity of studying with Ko Iwasaki and Richard Hirschl (CSO). After an extremely stressful audition for the Chicago Symphony in spring of 1996, he enrolled at Illinois State University and began work on a Master's of Music Education while keeping a studio of 15 private students.

In January of 1998, Chris was accepted into a computer programming training program with State Farm Insurance. After 16 weeks of intense training he began his career as a system's analyst and continues with this position today.

Personally, Chris met his wife Lisa in 1994. After one horrific date, the two did not talk for over a year. The second time around was much more successful and they were engaged in November of 1996 and married in June of 1999. The best thing that ever happened to them, their daughter Sydney, arrived into the world on January 10, 2003. Chris' main hobbies outside work and music include golf and computers.