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. Chris 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 an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2019.

 

Chris held the position of Principal Trumpet of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra from September 2013 to October 2021, and in September 2023 was awarded the position of Principal Trumpet of the London Concert Orchestra. Chris has performed as Principal Trumpet in many of the leading orchestras across the UK, including the Royal Opera House, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra, amongst others. 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 with many of the orchestras he has featured with, 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 teaches at Dauntsey’s School in Devizes, having previously taught at Bristol Cathedral School, St. George's College in Weybridge, the John Lyon School in Harrow, and across his home county, Bath and North East Somerset. 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.