About
Christopher Gilley began his musical journey at age four on the piano, studying under his mother, pianist Ariel Gilley. This early foundation cultivated a deep understanding and appreciation for music. After seven years of dedicated study, he decided to begin learning the cello as an alternative outlet for his musical abilities and immediately fell in love with the instrument.
Under the expert instruction of Neal Cary, principal cellist of the Richmond Symphony, Christopher joined the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO), where he played for four years, serving as principal cellist for two. In 2022, he won the RSYO Concerto Competition and had the opportunity to perform Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations with orchestra later that year.
Christopher was the first prize winner of the 2025–26 Student Soloists Competition and appeared as a soloist with the conservatory orchestra in the Fall of 2025. Christopher is currently studying with Professor Julian Schwarz at Shenandoah Conservatory, where he is an active participant in both the orchestra and chamber music programs.
