Bio
Chris is passionate about all aspects of music, from performance as a solo and chamber recorder player, conducting orchestras and ensembles, to teaching the next generation of young musicians.
Currently running the recorder departments at the Junior and Senior Schools of the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham's School of Music in Manchester UK, visiting tutor at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, chamber music and the orchestral programme at L' Escola Joan Llongueres in Barcelona, he is also in demand worldwide working with recorder players and composers. He has given masterclasses, concerts, workshops and adjudicated competitions at the Royal Academy of Music, Krakow Academy of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Dulwich College Singapore, and at the universities of Hull, York and Birmingham.
As a conductor, Chris has trained the young musicians of the Junior RNCM Wind Ensemble, Stockport Youth Orchestra, the National Youth Recorder Orchestra of Great Britain, ensembles at Chetham's School of Music and currently conducts the Junior RNCM Chamber Orchestra. He has been invited to conduct ensembles throughout the UK, Singapore, Spain and Germany.
Chris performs solo repertoire from the 12th Century up to music of today. Composers such as Thomas Simaku, Edward Gregson and Michal Pawelek have composed and dedicated solo works for Chris. His recitals have taken place in the Wigmore Hall London, Bridgewater Hall Manchester, Symphony Hall Birmingham, Philharmonic Hall, Krakow, Budapest Castle, and in venues in Singapore, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria and Spain.
Chris studied recorder with Ross Winters, Annabel Knight and Anneke Boeke, conducting with Jordi Mora, Dalcroze Eurhythmics with Bethan Habron - James and at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and L'Escola Superior de Musica de Catalunya (ESMUC) in Barcelona.
Awards include 1st Prize at the Moeck/SRP International Recorder Player Competition 2007, BBC Fame Academy Bursary 2007, Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians and 2nd Prize, Prix du Jury and Gaudeamus Prize at the Penderecki Contemporary Music Competition, Poland. He has adjudicated for the Moeck/SRP competition, the Prince's Prize, the Maisie Lewis Prize and Live Music Now!. Chris has broadcast live on and recorded for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Television. In 2012, Chris was awarded Honorary Membership (HonBC) of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for his achievements in the field of music and education.
photos copyright Robin Bigwood