Biography

Chris originally started playing the cornet at the age of four, studying first with his mum, Susan Avison, up until the age of 16 when he went on to study the trumpet with Paul Archibald, Dan Newell and Paul Beniston. He obtained his Bachelor of Music at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, studying under Philippe Schartz. He then went on to gain a distinction in his post-graduate Master of Arts degree at the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded the Diploma of the Royal Academy for outstanding performance in his final recital, studying with James Watson, Rod Franks, Robert Farley, John Hutchins and Mark David. In 2018, Chris was made an Associate of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2019.

Chris is the former Principal Trumpet of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, a position he held from September 2013 to October 2021. Chris is currently on trial for Principal Trumpet positions in the orchestra of the Royal Opera House, the orchestra of English National Opera, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Associate Principal Trumpet position in the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. He also performs with many other orchestras across UK. Alongside orchestral playing, Chris has played in several West End productions, as well as running and being a founding member of Inner City Brass.

Chris has recorded regularly with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra and as a session musician, as well as being the featured soloist on “Dragons’ Rise – A Tribute to Professor James Watson” with Marylebone Brass, which has raised just shy of £3,000 for the James Watson Fund to date.

Alongside his performing schedule, Chris is passionate about supporting young musicians and aspiring performers and has delivered workshops and masterclasses to young people through Inner City Brass and the BSO Brass Quintet. He has taught across his home county, Bath and North East Somerset, as well as at the John Lyon School in Harrow, St. George’s College in Weybridge and Bristol Cathedral School. He has also played an active role in delivering outreach sessions to inspire school children to take up a musical instrument for the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

Chris is pleased to endorse Bach trumpets and plays on a Bach Stradivarius R180S37 Custom ‘London’ model Bb trumpet.

Updated July 2022