Chris Nolan (musician)
Encyclopedia
Chris Nolan is an Australian pianist, singer, and musical director.
Nolan gained his associate of music in pianoforte performance from the Australian Music Examinations Board
and further trained in musical theatre at LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. He also trained as a classical singer in Australia and Asia, before completing an MA in the Practice of Voice and Singing at Guildford School of Acting
in the UK.
His stage debut was as the title role in Opera Hunter's production of Oliver!
. Following this he was cast by Susan H. Schulman
as Friedrich von Trapp in the Australian revival of The Sound of Music
. Nolan was invited to perform with the Singapore Lyric Opera in their production of John Rutter
's Wind in the Willows. Nolan worked extensively throughout Asia as a pianist and MD, including a post as Head of Entertainment for Prego Restaurant at the prestigious Raffles Hotel
. He had further success in the UK and the West End as a freelance musical director and vocal coach.
As a pianist/musical director he has worked on shows such as What's It All About - The Songs of Burt Bacharach, Georgette, Scrooge for the Singapore Repertory Theatre
, Urinetown
, and keyboard in the UK Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
in Singapore. Nolan was musical director for Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris with Singtheatre. Nolan worked as the rehearsal pianist for the London Gay Men's Chorus
He has coached West End performers for shows including We Will Rock You
, Carousel
, The Light in the Piazza, Spamalot
, The Sound Of Music
, Mamma Mia
, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and West Side Story
Nolan gained his associate of music in pianoforte performance from the Australian Music Examinations Board
Australian Music Examinations Board
The Australian Music Examinations Board is a privately funded corporation which assesses music, speech, and drama in Australia. The organisation had its beginnings at the Universities of Melbourne and Adelaide in 1887; the organisation now has a Federal Office in Melbourne, and offices in each...
and further trained in musical theatre at LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. He also trained as a classical singer in Australia and Asia, before completing an MA in the Practice of Voice and Singing at Guildford School of Acting
Guildford School of Acting
Guildford School of Acting is a drama school located in Guildford, Surrey, England. It is an affiliate of the University of Surrey and is an accredited member of the National Council for Drama Training and The Conference of Drama Schools.-Overview:...
in the UK.
His stage debut was as the title role in Opera Hunter's production of Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
. Following this he was cast by Susan H. Schulman
Susan H. Schulman
Susan H. Schulman is an American theater director.Intent on a career as an actress, Schulman studied drama at Hofstra University in Hempstead, Long Island, New York in the 1960s. She attended Yale University on a playwrighting fellowship, graduating with a Master's Degree...
as Friedrich von Trapp in the Australian revival of The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
. Nolan was invited to perform with the Singapore Lyric Opera in their production of John Rutter
John Rutter
John Milford Rutter CBE is a British composer, conductor, editor, arranger and record producer, mainly of choral music.-Biography:Born in London, Rutter was educated at Highgate School, where a fellow pupil was John Tavener. He read music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the...
's Wind in the Willows. Nolan worked extensively throughout Asia as a pianist and MD, including a post as Head of Entertainment for Prego Restaurant at the prestigious Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel is a colonial-style hotel in Singapore, and one of the world's most famous hotels. The hotel was established by the famous Armenian Sarkies Brothers. Opened in 1887, it was named after Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles. Managed by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, it is...
. He had further success in the UK and the West End as a freelance musical director and vocal coach.
As a pianist/musical director he has worked on shows such as What's It All About - The Songs of Burt Bacharach, Georgette, Scrooge for the Singapore Repertory Theatre
Singapore Repertory Theatre
The Singapore Repertory Theatre is the first Singapore-based professional theatre group which was founded in 1993. It is reputed to be the leading English language theatres in whole of Asia...
, Urinetown
Urinetown
Urinetown: The Musical is a satirical comedy musical, with music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Hollmann and Greg Kotis, and book by Kotis. It satirizes the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics...
, and keyboard in the UK Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (musical)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, also known as Chitty the Musical, is a stage musical based on the 1968 film produced by Cubby Broccoli. The music and lyrics were written by Richard and Robert Sherman with book by Jeremy Sams.-Productions:...
in Singapore. Nolan was musical director for Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris with Singtheatre. Nolan worked as the rehearsal pianist for the London Gay Men's Chorus
London Gay Men's Chorus
Founded in 1991 by a group of six gay men, the London Gay Men’s Chorus is now, with around 190 singing members and over 230 members in total, Europe’s largest and best known gay choir.-Introduction:...
He has coached West End performers for shows including We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You
"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
, Carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
, The Light in the Piazza, Spamalot
Spamalot
Monty Python's Spamalot is a musical comedy "lovingly ripped off from" the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Like the film, it is a highly irreverent parody of the Arthurian Legend, but it differs from the film in many ways, especially in its parodies of Broadway theatre...
, The Sound Of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
, Mamma Mia
Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! is a stage musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of ABBA, composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, former members of the band. Although the title of the musical is taken from the group's 1975 chart-topper "Mamma Mia", the plot is fictional, not...
, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and West Side Story
West Side Story
West Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins...