Chris is currently undertaking a Master of Arts post-graduate degree at The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London after graduating from The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) in Cardiff with a Bachelor of Music honours degree.

At RWCMD he performed in every major college ensemble (Orchestra, Wind Orchestra and Brass Band), played in the Symphonic Brass Ensemble, the Brass 10 Piece and quintet - Bute Brass, and has performed in master classes with Canadian Brass, Onyx Brass, Fine Arts Brass, James Watson, Crispian Steele-Perkins and Paul Archibald.

In January 2008 Chris led the Bute Brass quintet from the RWCMD to victory in the Intercollegiate Quintet Competition beating quintets from The Guildhall, The Royal College of Music, The Royal Northern College of Music and The Royal Scottish Academy of Music. In 2007 Chris also led the quintet to winning the Brass Wind Brass Prize at the RWCMD.

Chris has also taken part in many schools outreach visits with various groups including Bute Brass, RWCMD Symphonic Brass, Onyx Brass and Sinfonia Cymru. These events have included visits to individual schools, concerts at events for young brass players and a children's concert at Newport Arts Centre. He has also performed in an educational concert with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for children with special needs.

He started lessons with his Mum on the cornet when he was 4. He now studies under James Watson, Rod Franks, Mark David and Robert Farley, having previously studied with Philippe Schartz, Paul Archibald and Daniel Newell.

In August 2005 he won a scholarship to The Salvation Army's Star Lake Music Camp in the USA as the international winner of the Erik Leidzen Memorial Scholarship.

Before he went to college he was a member of the Bath & North East Somerset County Philharmonic Orchestra, Senior Wind Band and Brass Band and the West of England Schools Symphonic Wind Band, where he was the Principal Trumpet player. He also competed regularly in the Mid-Somerset Music Festival winning many prizes as a soloist and in 2001 won the Bath Young Musician of the Year Competition.

To broaden his experience Chris plays in the brass band contesting arena and has played with the Cory Band, BTM Band, Parc and Dare Band and the Burry Port Town Band in contests, concerts and recordings. He has spent the last year playing regularly with The Cory Band and as a result of this, is now World and European Champion.

Since being at RAM, Chris has played in a master class with the world famous trumpeter Eric Aubier and has been awarded the Highly Commended prize in the Sidney Langston Prize.

He has performed at venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, The Royal Festival Hall, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Symphony Hall, St David's Hall, The Sage, The Wales Millennium Centre, The Colston Hall and St Georges in Bristol.

Chris is sponsored by Willson Band Instruments. Makers of the finest instruments. He is a performing artist and plays on the 410 Celebration Cornet.
As well as studying at RWCMD , Chris also taught brass for Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Music Service for one day a week and also had a number of private students.

On graduating from RWCMD, Chris was awarded The Ivor Coles Award for outstanding talent in brass. He has also been awarded an ABRSM Post-graduate scholarship to study at The Royal Academy of Music.

On completion of his studies he hopes to pursue a career as a professional player and has already performed with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales Wind Octet and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales Big Band.

 

Chris is very grateful for financial support from The Countess of Munster and Philharmonia Trust Funds and EMI Music Sound Foundation.

 

Testimonials

Chris Avison is an outstanding and versatile young trumpeter who performs at a consistently high level across all styles of music. His musical maturity, technical security and exceptional tone quality will serve him well in his future career.

Kevin Price
Head of Brass
RWCMD

 

Trumpet Masterclass - Eric Aubier

There is always a lot on for visitors to the Academy to enjoy.

During the afternoon I attended part of Eric Aubier's Trumpet Masterclass there.
I heard four of sixteen students scheduled to play through the day; I was particularly impressed by Chris Avison playing Tomasi; a likely soloist in the making.

 

Peter Grahame Woolf
Editor of Musical Pointers