Christine Araoka
Lecturer
Conservatory of Music, College of Performing Arts
Email: araoka@chapman.edu
Biography
Christine Araoka is a composer, performer, and educator based in Southern California.
She writes and arranges music for a wide range of ensembles—including big bands, jazz
combos, and brass groups—and has collaborated with organizations such as Heartland
Marimba, Southern California Marimba, LALA Brass, and many more. In 2022, she toured
the UK with internationally acclaimed pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck, and she continues
to perform throughout Los Angeles and Orange County in jazz, pop, rock, and classical
settings.
Alongside her performance career, Christine is a dedicated educator. She runs her
own private piano studio in Fullerton and also teaches at UC Riverside, Riverside
City College, and Chapman University. She is passionate about helping students discover
their own musical voice while developing a strong foundation in technique, theory,
and creativity.
Recently, she released a duo album with her musical partner Josh Jerome titled Wander,
available on all major streaming platforms.