D
awn Crist began her musical education at the age of 5, and was initially taught by her father, Donald Crist, who had a thriving trio in the Philadelphia musical scene of the 30's and 40's. Dawn's mother, Helen E., who was an elementary school teacher, had a fine singing voice and considerable acting ability.
It was Dawn's sister, Jill, who soon had the budding pianist playing short classical pieces, and it was the classics that fired Dawn's young imagination, in addition to the jazz music that was regularly heard around the house.
Ms. Crist, who is mostly self-taught, began to tackle the sonatas of Beethoven and Chopin, in her teens and she later graduated from Moore College of Art, with a BFA in photography.
Still, the music of Jazz called to her, and she attended Settlement Music School at 3rd and Queen Streets, in Philadelphia, for 4 years. Under the tutlage of Bill Meek, Jr., who is now her colleague, Dawn gained access to the Philadelphia Jazz scene.
Since her Settlement days, Dawn has worked in various clubs and almost every hotel in the city of Philadelphia. She has played the Mellon Jazz Festival and played many private parties. Ms. Crist's lively, rhythmic style has made her popular with many people.
Now Dawn has branched into the area of arranging and composing. PHILLY HEAT SUITE is the music that accompanies the play she wrote, by the same name. The play, the lyrics, and all but one song (Dreamz, written by Bill Meek, Jr.)are entirely from the fertile imagination of Ms. Dawn G. Crist.
