Over the last 20 years I have been an active member of several successful pipe bands incl. The Scandinavian Seaways Pipe Band (first German pipe band ever to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland and German Pipe Band Champions 1990),
the Heather and District Pipes and Drums (German Pipe Band Champions 1994-1995), the St. Andrews Presbyterian College Pipe Band (South Eastern Champions), and most recently the City of Washington Pipe Band (1999 Grade 2 World Champions).
In the summer of 2001 I moved with my wife Stephanie to Greenville, South Carolina,USA. After a short absence from the piping scene I became a member in good standings with the EUSPBA. Since 2002 I have been involved with several Grade 4 and Grade 3 pipe bands in the Southern US and had invitations to guest with Grade 1 and Grade 2 pipe bands in Canada, Australia and the UK.. Since 2003 I have been ranking in the Top 10 of Grade 1 (semi-professional) pipers in the eastern conference of the EUSPBA.In 2004 I became the highest ranking Grade 1 piper in the southern US. I have also been awarded the distinguished title of Colonel Christoph Kresse by the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. I am the first German citizen to ever receive this honor. I am the President and founder of the Pipers Club of the Carolinas that promotes the art and music of the Scottish/Irish bagpipes through out the southern US. In the winter of 2005 I have been upgraded from Grade 1 to the Open/Professional level, the highest honor and achievement a piper can gain in the piping world.
Beside my very busy schedule of piping engagements I am a Audio Engineering major at Clemson University and I am an official agent for Alasdair MacDonald bagpipe covers.
I am consatntly seeking to improve my piping and drumming skills and take part in workshops, and certifications in order to provide the best quality performances and instruction to my customers and students.
The Piping Institute and the National Piping Centre of Glasgow, Scotland have awarded me with the intermediate piping certificate and the performers certificate in 2005. I am the only performance certified bagpiper in the south eastern USA. Since September 2007, I am the pipe major of the 84th Highlanders Pipe Band in Greenville, South Carolina.
Performance for the welcome of HRH the prince and princess of Wales in Hamburg, Germany 1989
Promotion performances for Bass Beer, Guiness and Newcastle Brown Ale.
Opening act for Rod Stewart's 1991 World Tour concert in Kiel, Germany 1991.
Representant for Scandinavian Seaways Germany/UK
Performances for the Pinehurst Golf Resort, NC, hosts of the 2005 US Open.
Performance at the Waterloo Ball of the Officer's Mess, The Royal Dragoon Guards in Paderborn, Germany.
Performances for the Officer's Mess of the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars, Fallingbostel Station, Germany.
Frequently performances for the REME and 1st Royal Tank Regiment Officer's Mess in Fallingbostel Station.
Official piper for the 1998 St. Patrick's Day Irish Folk Music Festival, Hamburg, Germany.
Performances for the British Day in Hamburg, Germany, sponsored by the British Consulate.
Pipe Major for the opening ceremony massed pipes and drums of the 50th Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, July 2005.
Discoraphy:
Glenfiddle - "Black Rain" (German Scottish/Irish Folk band) 1994.
The B.A.G Knock-Out Piping Contest 1995.
The Hamburg Irish Folk Festival 1998 (Festival compilation) 1998.
The University of North Carolina Pembroke Music Dept. "Music Diversity Sampler" 2005.
The World Pipe Band Championships (Qualifying Heat) 2005 (Christoph with the City of Washington PB)