Schedule
HostsWays to Give
HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsEventsOn DemandOur StoryOur TeamWays to Give Become a Sponsor
How to ListenVisit Help CenterContact Us

Find Us on Social Media:

Logo image

Find Us on Social Media:

Download Our Mobile App:

google play icon

About

HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsOn DemandOur StoryOur Team

Community

EventsWays to Give Become a SponsorPressDiversity StatementCareersAnnual EEO ReportDigital Accessibility

Help

How to ListenVisit Help CenterContact Us

©2025 Classical California

Sweepstakes RulesFCC ComplianceLocal Public FilesCPB ComplianceAnnual EEO ReportPrivacy PolicyCode of Integrity
The remnants of an upright piano in Christopher Still’s home in Altadena.

articles / Community

Notes from the Fires: Christopher Still

John Rabe

CommunityOn DemandNotes from the Fires

Note from the Fires: Christopher Still (Part 2)

Finally, some progress for one of the people we’re following in Notes from the Fires.

00:00

This episode of Notes from the Fires introduces us to Christopher Still, second trumpet for the LA Phil. Chris also hosts a podcast called Honesty Pill in which he helps other classical musicians hone their skills. Still lived in Altadena with his wife Amanda, their two young sons, and their two dogs, Luna and Karl Von Hoobie-Doobie. They got out of the house 15-20 minutes after he saw fire in Eaton Canyon.

Thank you to Chris for being part of Notes from the Fires. The piece you heard at the end of today's episode is the third movement of Brahms’ 4th Symphony, recorded live in concert by the LA Phil, featuring conductor Gustavo Dudamel and Chris in the horn section.

Listen to the full episode above. Below, check out photos of Chris, his home, and watch a video featuring the beautiful story about a group that helped his family when their house burned down.

 Christopher Still playing his trumpet in his rental house in Silverlake.

Christopher Still playing his trumpet in his rental house in Silverlake.

John Rabe

Christopher Still, in his rental house in Silverlake, with a painting of his house done by Houses in Memoriam.

Christopher Still, in his rental house in Silverlake, with a painting of his house done by Houses in Memoriam.

John Rabe

The remnants of an upright piano in Christopher Still’s home in Altadena.

The remnants of an upright piano in Christopher Still’s home in Altadena.

John Rabe

NFTF Chris Still

Christopher Still, in his rental house in Silverlake, tells us about this touching painting of his house that burned in Altadena. Recorded by John Rabe.

CommunityOn DemandNotes from the Fires
Written by:
John Rabe
John Rabe
Published on 03.25.2025
Loading...

MORE LIKE THIS

Notes from the Fires: Patt Morrison

Notes from the Fires: Patt Morrison

On this episode of Notes from the Fires: Patt Morrison, the veteran LA Times columnist, author, radio host, river lover, and local historian.

05/19/2025
Notes from the Fires: Larry Schoenberg

Notes from the Fires: Larry Schoenberg

In this episode of Notes from the Fires, John Rabe talks with 84-year-old Larry Schoenberg about “daddy” and his love of LA, and rebuilding Belmont better and stronger.

05/14/2025
Notes from the Fires: Christopher Still (Part 2)

Notes from the Fires: Christopher Still (Part 2)

Finally, some progress for one of the people we’re following in Notes from the Fires. Host John Rabe met LA Phil trumpeter Christopher Still and his wife Amanda at the site of their burned home in Altadena.

04/29/2025
Notes from the Fires: Jeffrey Kahane

Notes from the Fires: Jeffrey Kahane

Notes from the Fires host John Rabe had a long conversation recently with maestro Jeffrey Kahane, the pianist and former conductor of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

04/07/2025
Notes from the Fires: Tesserae

Notes from the Fires: Tesserae

Perhaps no musicians we’ve heard from in Notes from the Fires so far have lost so much … yet retained so much optimism. Alex Opsahl and Ian Pritchard, founders of the Baroque ensemble Tesserae, were in Europe with their two young boys on January 7.

03/31/2025
Notes from the Fires: Nina Evtuhov

Notes from the Fires: Nina Evtuhov

This episode of Notes from the Fires takes us to Venice to meet Nina Evtuhov, a sought-after session violinist whose house burned down in the Palisades on January 7th.

03/18/2025