Chris Houlding
Encyclopedia
Chris Houlding was appointed Principal Trombone of the Orchestra of Opera North, England, when he was 21 and has played as Guest Principal with the best of UK ensembles and recently represented the UK in the World Orchestra of Peace in Russia. He is also known as an influential teacher in his position of Senior Tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
A graduate of London's Guildhall School of Music, Chris studied with Denis Wick
, Eric Crees
and Peter Gane, and was awarded the Principal's Prize. Prior to this he was a member of the National Youth Brass Band, National Youth Jazz Orchestra and European Union Youth Orchestra, gaining the LRAM Diploma under John Iveson.
He gives recitals and masterclasses throughout the UK, including at Roger Argente's "Bone Lab" at the Dartington Festival
. He has also appeared as a tutor on Joseph Alessi
’s Summer Seminar together with appearances at Juilliard, Eastman School of Music
and Boston University
in the USA.
As conductor, he is Music Director of the Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra and regularly conducts ensembles including the Northern Junior Philharmonic, Lancashire Youth Symphony, Derbyshire County Wind Orchestra and Grimethorpe Colliery Band
. During 2004-5 he completed a course in conducting at the RNCM to gain further experience under the watchful eye of Mark Elder
CBE
.
President of the British Trombone Society 2001-2005, Chris has freely given his time to actively promoting the trombone in a wide range of events throughout the UK, including a promising education partnership with jazz trombonist Dennis Rollins.
Chris has had pieces written for him including Simon Wills' "Lucifer" and "Bujole" and Eric Crees
' "Flourish".
Since 2007 he is professor for chamber music and trombone at the Folkwang Hochschule in Germany
.
In 2008, Chris released his first solo CD. Called Houlding His Own, it features standard trombone repertoire such as the sonatas by Hindemith and Sulek along with other, less familiar, repertoire for trombone alone and with piano.
A graduate of London's Guildhall School of Music, Chris studied with Denis Wick
Denis Wick
Denis Wick is Britain's most influential orchestral trombonist of the 20th century. He is also an internationally respected brass teacher and designer of brass mutes and mouthpieces...
, Eric Crees
Eric Crees
Eric Crees was appointed Principal Trombone of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 2000. Before that he spent twenty-seven years at the London Symphony Orchestra, twenty as Co-Principal Trombone...
and Peter Gane, and was awarded the Principal's Prize. Prior to this he was a member of the National Youth Brass Band, National Youth Jazz Orchestra and European Union Youth Orchestra, gaining the LRAM Diploma under John Iveson.
He gives recitals and masterclasses throughout the UK, including at Roger Argente's "Bone Lab" at the Dartington Festival
Dartington Hall
The Dartington Hall Trust, near Totnes, Devon, United Kingdom is a charity specialising in the arts, social justice and sustainability.The Trust currently runs 16 charitable programmes, including The Dartington International Summer School and Schumacher Environmental College...
. He has also appeared as a tutor on Joseph Alessi
Joseph Alessi
Joseph Alessi is a world-renowned, primarily classical, trombonist; he is the current Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and an active soloist, teacher/clinician and recording artist. Alessi is considered the finest player in modern times....
’s Summer Seminar together with appearances at Juilliard, Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
and Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in the USA.
As conductor, he is Music Director of the Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra and regularly conducts ensembles including the Northern Junior Philharmonic, Lancashire Youth Symphony, Derbyshire County Wind Orchestra and Grimethorpe Colliery Band
Grimethorpe Colliery Band
The Grimethorpe Colliery Band is a brass band, based in Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire, England. It was formed in 1917, as a leisure activity for the workers at the colliery, by members of the disbanded Cudworth Colliery Band...
. During 2004-5 he completed a course in conducting at the RNCM to gain further experience under the watchful eye of Mark Elder
Mark Elder
Sir Mark Philip Elder, CBE is a British conductor. He is the music director of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, England.-Biography:Elder was born in Hexham, Northumberland, England, the son of a dentist...
CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
President of the British Trombone Society 2001-2005, Chris has freely given his time to actively promoting the trombone in a wide range of events throughout the UK, including a promising education partnership with jazz trombonist Dennis Rollins.
Chris has had pieces written for him including Simon Wills' "Lucifer" and "Bujole" and Eric Crees
Eric Crees
Eric Crees was appointed Principal Trombone of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 2000. Before that he spent twenty-seven years at the London Symphony Orchestra, twenty as Co-Principal Trombone...
' "Flourish".
Since 2007 he is professor for chamber music and trombone at the Folkwang Hochschule in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
In 2008, Chris released his first solo CD. Called Houlding His Own, it features standard trombone repertoire such as the sonatas by Hindemith and Sulek along with other, less familiar, repertoire for trombone alone and with piano.