Christopher Shainin is an arts manager and composer. He is Executive Director of Kirkland Arts Center, was Managing Director of Bainbridge Performing Arts, and has managed several classical music ensembles, including Sorelle and Affinity. He co-founded and ran the Seattle Creative Orchestra, which was dedicated to the performance of contemporary music including instruments from China, Japan, India, Thailand, Turkey, and Indonesia. He also serves as Director of Washington Composers Forum, and is a composer for ForeignAmerican Pictures. Christopher was conductor of the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra and taught music theory and music appreciation at the University of Washington. Shainin received a Master of Music, Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition, and a certificate degree in Arts Management from the University of Washington, and is an Advisory Board member of the UW Arts Management program. Shainin was also a Fellow at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. His work has been premiered at the Seattle Symphony’s Fusion Festival and Made in America Festival and the University of Washington Summer Arts Festival, and his music for film has been presented at several international film festivals.