Christopher Coritsidis, Founder of the Opus 1 Foundation, on harnessing the arts to drive positive change, foster well-being, and connect people

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Christopher Coritsidis, Founder of the Opus 1 Foundation, presents a vision for how the arts can play a practical and effective role in driving social impact.

His work focuses on leveraging the power of creative expression to address real-world challenges such as economic inequality, social injustice, and environmental sustainability.

The Opus 1 Foundation brings together a wide-ranging network of artists, academics, advocates, policymakers, and organizations committed to using the arts as a tool for change.

The foundation’s approach is based on the belief that creative practices can go beyond personal expression — they can be used to foster social connection, promote well-being, and strengthen communities.

Coritsidis draws on a combination of professional experiences — from his background as a violinist to his MBA from MIT — to develop initiatives that combine artistic creativity with strategic impact.

A key focus of the Opus 1 Foundation’s work is exploring how the arts can help address disconnection and isolation, which are growing challenges in many societies today. Whether through music, visual arts, or performance, creative projects have been shown to foster a sense of belonging and improve mental and emotional well-being.

About Christopher Coritsidis

Christopher is a violinist, artist, advocate, venture philanthropist and exited entrepreneur based in New York City. He has appeared on some of the world’s most famous stages, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, Tokyo’s Minato Hall, the Het Concetgebouw in Amsterdam and the Philharmonie in Berlin, and performed as guest soloist with the New York Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Philharmonic and others.

Christopher founded the Opus 1 Foundation after a benefit concert tour to Kenya in 2016, where he was inspired by the work of the Ghetto Classics program and the difference music education made for hundreds of impoverished children in Nairobi. As CEO, he leads the organization, activating the power of the arts to transform creative action into tangible solutions for global issues.

He holds a BA from The Juilliard School and BM from Columbia University, as well as a MBA in Finance & Technology from M.I.T. in Cambridge, Massachusetts.