KÜF KNOTZ & CHRISTINE ELISE

HIP HOP | SOUL | NEW AGE

PHOTO:BOB SWEENEY

BIOGRAPHY
Present//

PHOTOS: AL_ROBINSON_PHOTOGRAPHY

CHRISTINE ELISE

Christine Gallagher, MA, MT-BC, LMT, LPC “Christine Elise” is classically trained harpist, pianist, and vocalist who has been consecutively touring across North America for the past four years. Studying music therapy at a masters level led her to find a passion for community music therapy. Christine has facilitated group sessions and workshops for professionals and clients in the USA, South Africa, Peru and Jamaica. She has presented at national, regional, and world music therapy conferences and written scholarly articles published by Music Therapy Perspectives. She has provided clinical supervision for undergraduate and graduate students at MusicWorks, Jamaica Field Service Project, Women's & Children's Hospital of Buffalo, NY, Warren Wilson College, and Immaculata University.

She taught as an adjunct professor for the music therapy department of Immaculata University College of Graduate Studies and Boyer College of Music and Dance of Temple University for several undergraduate and graduate level classes.

Christine has composed for various organizations and institutions. Recent commissions include The Free Project Series, for Pennsylvania Humanities Council, What Does Freedom Mean to Me? as part of the The Dedication of the Commemorative to Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland for St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Club House Theme Song for AHA Studio for Integrated Therapies and over twenty original compositions for Autism Across the Globe, directed by Rima J. Irani or Lebanon.

In 2018, Christine and Kuf founded a community music therapy outreach performance project called Higher Grounds Music, using the power of music, clinical training, and performance experience to foster personal growth. Working in a strength based model, the workshops/performances are designed to support participants in building skills to build confidence, increase motivation and drive and strengthen self-care skills.

KÜF KNOTZ

Songwriter | Producer | MC Named Philadelphia Magazine Best Rapper of 2022,Kuf Knotz Blends hiphop poetry with deep grooves of soul and beats sun kissed with the spirit of Lo-Fi & 90's era vibes , Kuf’s inimitable style focuses on unsubtle spirituality, that, like his music, focus on unity, positivity and creativity.

In 2008, the same year he opened for Bruce Springsteen, Kuf sang lead vocals on “Unstoppable,” a song created to mark the Philadelphia Phillies winning the World Series. In 2010, Kuf recorded “Boombox Logic,” which was named the year’s best hip hop song by the Independent Music Awards.

His next venture, 2015’s A Positive Light,” reflected his carefully forged fusion of music styles. Kuf’s on-screen credits include a part on the hit FOX TV show “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.” He appeared in a Domino’s Pizza commercial and was a cast member in a music-based reality show. Film and video are close to Kuf’s heart; he earned a degree in video production from the Art Institute of Philadelphia

Kuf has opened for The Roots, Ms. Lauryn Hill, The Wailers, Arrested Development, Josh Ritter, Robert Glasper, Robert Randolph, G-Love and Bruce Springsteen.

His most creatively ambitious collaboration is with Christine Elise, the classically trained harpist with whom Kuf recorded three albums:

“Higher Grounds,” (2018),

“kƏ’myo ōnƏdē,” (2021).

"Hypnagogia” (2024).

Theirs is music with a mission; Kuf and Christine lead Higher Grounds music therapy workshops.