Christopher Rivelli

Instructor of drums and percussion, Chris Rivelli, has taught at Boston Arts Academy since 2015. He teaches drum set and percussion technique, music theory, jazz combos and conducts or co-conducts several performing groups, including the Latin-Jazz, Rock, and R&B Ensembles.

Since 2002 Chris has been a staff instructor for Berklee College of Music’s City Music Program. He currently teaches for the High School Academy, Preparatory Academy, and co-leads Faculty Outreach All Star Big Band. His duties include teaching private drum set and percussion lessons, leading ensembles, and acting as a committee member for concert and summit planning.

In 2005, Chris and his wife Molly Jo (also BAA music faculty), founded MJ’s Music School in Waltham, Massachusetts. MJ’s presently provides weekly lessons to over 300 students of various ages, abilities, and stylistic interests, on most instruments.

Chris’s performing career has been as varied and exciting as his teaching career. He has toured the U.S. and Europe many times with multiple Grammy nominees including Roomful of Blues, Duke Robillard, and Janiva Magness. He has also performed and/or recorded with Toni Lynn Washington, John Nemeth, Nick Moss, Matthew Stubbs, Doug Woolverton’s Tribute to Miles Davis, Junior Watson, Lynwood Slim, and many others.

Chris is a 1998 honors graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in Music Performance. He studied for several years with the legendary jazz drummer/educator Alan Dawson. Following Berklee, Chris did post-baccalaureate studies in music education at Bridgewater State University.

An endorser for Vater drum sticks, Chris has received special honors including Berklee Urban Service awards in 2014 and 2017, and the Blues Audience Magazine Reader’s Poll Drummer of the Year in 2012, and 2013. He is a five-time Boston Music Award nominee, and won Boston Music Awards in 2002, and 2017.