Über Christopher Houlding

Chris Houlding was appointed Principal Trombone of the Orchestra of Opera North, Britain’s newest and most innovative opera company, when he was 21. Since then he has appeared as Guest Principal with most major UK ensembles including the London Symphony, Royal Opera House Covent Garden and London Brass. A graduate of London’s Guildhall School of Music, he studied with Denis Wick, Eric Crees and Peter Gane, and was awarded the Principal’s Prize. Currently Professor of Trombone and Brass Ensemble at the Folkwang University of Arts, Essen, Germany, he is also Trombone Tutor and Director of the Brass Band at London's Guildhall School of Music & Drama and International Visiting Tutor the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. A regular Trombone Professor with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, he has recently coached the European Union Youth Orchestra (2009) and Gustav Mahler Jungend Orchester and gives recitals and masterclasses throughout the world, including the Joseph Alessi Summer Seminar, Juilliard, Eastman and conservatoires in Boston, Texas, St Petersburg, Porto, Oslo and Aarhus. Chris has given recitals, classes and has served as outside assessor at most major music schools throughout the UK. In 2003 Chris represented the UK in the World Orchestra for Peace under Valery Gergiev and has appeared as soloist in the Elgar Howarth Concerto (under the composer), Grondahl Concerto (under Martyn Brabbins), Bourgeois Concerto and Albrechtsberger Concerto as soloist/director. A former President of the British Trombone Society and clinician for the Edwards Instrument Company, he hosted the IPV Symposium in Essen (2010) and has appeared as guest artist at Aarhus, Denmark (ITF 2009), Slide Factory Rotterdam (2009), IPV Symposium Stuttgart (2009), Adams Trombone Day, (2008), International Festivals in Washington DC (ETW 2008), Las Vegas (ITF 2007), Sweden (2007) and Birmingham (ITF 2006) and is currently Vice Chair of the International Trombone Association Executive Board. His debut solo CD entitled Houlding his own was issued in 2008 on the SRC label. As conductor Chris has directed the Bochumer Symphoniker, Orchestra of Opera North, Grimethorpe Colliery and other bands and ensembles including symphony, opera, chamber and contemporary. He has also served on many international juries and regularly contributes to international magazines and periodicals.