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Prof. Christopher Houlding

MMus, GGSM, LRAM

Conductor, Performer, Educator

Prof. Christopher Houlding

Contact details

Witteringstr. 16, 45130 Essen, Germany

  cghoulding@googlemail.com
  www.chrishouldng.com
  07973 397082 (UK) 0171 417 7819 (Ger)


More information...

Christopher Houlding's roots are in Brass Bands. A former member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, Chris toured Japan with the London Symphony Orchestra at the invitation of Denis Wick while still studying at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and became Principal Trombone of the Orchestra of Opera North at the age of 21. Having appeared as Guest Principal with most major UK Symphony orchestras, he continues to perform regularly with Superbrass, The Symphonic Brass of London, Philharmonia, Scottish Chamber, MusikFabrik and Mahler Chamber Orchestras.

Professor of Trombone and Brass Ensemble at the Folkwang University of Arts, Essen, Germany and Visiting Tutor at London's Guildhall School of Music & Drama, he has also served as Head of Brass at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Senior Tutor in Brass and International Visiting Tutor at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music. He is a regular guest Professor with the Gustav Mahler Jungendorchester, European Union Youth Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

As Conductor of the Guildhall & Folkwang Brass Bands, he also has a long association with the RNCM and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Bands including performances at Whit Friday Competitions, in Norway and numerous RNCM Festivals of Brass. He has also assisted brass band development at Manchester's Chetham's School of Music and has worked as Guest Conductor with Grimethorpe, Black Dyke, Brighouse, GUS and bands throughout the UK and Europe including NRW Youth Brass Band, Brass Band Düren, Brass Band Westfalen, Brass Band BlechKlang and Brass Band esBrassivo in Germany.

He has held appointments as Professional Conductor with numerous British brass bands including DUT Yorkshire Imperial (Winners 2005 National Championship First Section), Whitburn, Stocksbridge Engineering Steels, Dodworth Colliery and Polypipe Rossington and has conducted regularly at all major competitions including the British Open, National Championships, All England Masters and Brass in Concert.

He has given masterclasses and workshops throughout the world including New York, Rochester, Bern, St Petersburg, Oslo, Aarhus, Porto, Lausanne, Riga, Cordoba, Ankara and Budapest, appeared as guest artist at International Festivals in Washington, Las Vegas, Nashville, Stuttgart, Hannover, Scandinavia, Aachen and Rostock and as soloist with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of Opera North and Durham Sinfonia. His Solo CD entitled 'Houlding his own' is issued on the SRC label while 'Houlding it together', a duet recording project with international colleagues, Joseph Alessi, Brett Baker, Jiggs Whigham, Carol Jarvis, Don Lucas, Niels Ole Bo Johansen, Ben van Dijk and Ansgar Striepens is available on the International Trombone Association website.

As Juror and Adjudicator, he has officiated at the British and Norwegian National Brass Band Championships, Music for Youth, International Wind Competition Moscow, Internationaler Wettbewerb Markneukirchen, Royal Overseas League Music Competition and leading Universities and Music Conservatories. A former President of the British Trombone Society and current Chairman of the International Trombone Association Executive Board, he continues to appear as soloist, conductor and educator at events throughout the world and is featured regularly as a contributor to well known Brass Journals.

 

 



Regent Hall Concerts - Royal College of Music Sackbut Ensemble

Friday 21 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Welsh Guards

Friday 21 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Midlands Championships Preview Evening

Sunday 23 February • Summit Centre . Kirkby in Ashfield . Nottinghamshire NG17 7LL


Contest: North West Regional Championships

Sunday 23 February • Winter Gardens Complex, Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HU


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 28 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Boarshurst Silver Band

February 17 • Boarshurst Silver Band, NW Championship Section, requires a BBb player, flugel, and front row cornet player. Under MD Jamie Prophet, the band have an ambitious and varied calendar for 2025, including NW Area, Spring Festival and Whit Friday.


Mid Rhondda Band

February 14 • Mid Rhondda Band are looking for the following players : Front Row Cornet, Solo Trombone, Eb Bass, Kit and Tuned Percussionists. The band will be competing in the 3rd Section at the Welsh Area. Contest & concert engagements in the diary for 2025


Reading Spring Gardens Brass Band

February 13 • Reading Band (current joint 1st place in the L&SC 4th section grading tables) needs a TENOR HORN for the regional contest in Stevenage on 15th March! Rehearsals in Woodley (RG5) on Thursday evenings with our MD Stephen Bucknell.


Simon Gresswell


Conductor, adjudicator, tutor, tuba specialist


               

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