Biography
Biography
Christopher Finch is an acclaimed conductor, accompanist, and vocal coach. He rose to national prominence in 2010 when he led the Wellensian Consort to the title of BBC Choir of the Year, the UK’s premier choral competition. Concert highlights with the Wellensian Consort included a recital at Wigmore Hall at the behest of John Tavener, an appearance in the ‘Choral at Cadogan Hall Series’ by invitation of Peter Philips, a memorial concert for Geoffrey Burgon at Sinfonia Smith Square with the City of London Sinfonia, and repeat invitations to appear at the Bath International Music Festival and at the Cheltenham International Festival. Under his direction, the Wellensian Consort broadcast widely for BBC Radio 3 and BBC television and recorded CDs with leading contemporary composers Bob Chilcott and Will Todd.
Christopher Finch is an acclaimed conductor, accompanist, and vocal coach. He rose to national prominence in 2010 when he led the Wellensian Consort to the title of BBC Choir of the Year, the UK’s premier choral competition. Concert highlights with the Wellensian Consort included a recital at Wigmore Hall at the behest of John Tavener, an appearance in the ‘Choral at Cadogan Hall Series’ by invitation of Peter Philips, a memorial concert for Geoffrey Burgon at Sinfonia Smith Square with the City of London Sinfonia, and repeat invitations to appear at the Bath International Music Festival and at the Cheltenham International Festival. Under his direction, the Wellensian Consort broadcast widely for BBC Radio 3 and BBC television and recorded CDs with leading contemporary composers Bob Chilcott and Will Todd.
Alongside his freelance career, Christopher is currently Head of Vocal and Choral Studies at Wells Cathedral School, one of the four specialist music schools supported by the UK government’s Music and Dance Scheme. At Wells, Christopher conducts the Symphony Chorus, Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir, and Choralia. Winner of the BBC Radio 3 Choral Competition in 2013, Choralia has twice represented the UK in the Grand Final of Let the Peoples Sing (2013 and 2019). Christopher’s choirs garnered further competitive success by winning the ‘Grand Prix’ at Musica Eterna Roma in 2016 and won the Youth Choir category at the 2023 International Choral Festival of Preveza. Choralia undertook a concert tour of Andrew Smith’s evocative ‘Norwegian Requiem’ with internationally acclaimed jazz trumpeter Arve Henriksen. The Wells Choirs have performed at venues as diverse as Philharmonie Luxembourg, City Hall Hong Kong, La Sagrada Familia, Palau de la Música Catalana, and Symphony Hall Birmingham. Christopher conducted Choralia and the London Contemporary Orchestra in a live BBC Radio 3 broadcast of Messiaen’s ‘Trois petites liturgies de la présence divine’. His recording ‘The Song of the Stars’ for Naxos garnered universal critical acclaim and was awarded ‘Editors Choice’ by Gramophone Magazine.
Alongside his freelance career, Christopher is currently Head of Vocal and Choral Studies at Wells Cathedral School, one of the four specialist music schools supported by the UK government’s Music and Dance Scheme. At Wells, Christopher conducts the Symphony Chorus, Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir, and Choralia. Winner of the BBC Radio 3 Choral Competition in 2013, Choralia has twice represented the UK in the Grand Final of Let the Peoples Sing (2013 and 2019). Christopher’s choirs garnered further competitive success by winning the ‘Grand Prix’ at Musica Eterna Roma in 2016 and won the Youth Choir category at the 2023 International Choral Festival of Preveza. Choralia undertook a concert tour of Andrew Smith’s evocative ‘Norwegian Requiem’ with internationally acclaimed jazz trumpeter Arve Henriksen. The Wells Choirs have performed at venues as diverse as Philharmonie Luxembourg, City Hall Hong Kong, La Sagrada Familia, Palau de la Música Catalana, and Symphony Hall Birmingham. Christopher conducted Choralia and the London Contemporary Orchestra in a live BBC Radio 3 broadcast of Messiaen’s ‘Trois petites liturgies de la présence divine’. His recording ‘The Song of the Stars’ for Naxos garnered universal critical acclaim and was awarded ‘Editors Choice’ by Gramophone Magazine.
Throughout his career, Christopher has continued to work with many of the South West’s leading choirs and choruses and has conducted the majority of the major choral canon. Musical Director of the Bristol Bach Choir from 2012 to 2022 and of Bath’s ‘The Handful’ for a decade at the start of his career, he has since worked as a guest conductor and animateur for Bath Bach Choir, Exeter Festival Chorus, Wells Cathedral Choir, The Really Big Chorus, LSO St Luke’s Community Choir, Bristol Ensemble, Canzona, and Charivari Agréable. As a chorus master and repetiteur, he has worked alongside Richard Hickox, Charles Hazelwood, Diego Masson, Neil Thomson, John Rutter, Nigel Perrin, and Brian Kay. He has also worked with many of the UK’s leading contemporary composers and served on the jury for the Royal Philharmonic Society’s ‘Encore’ competition.
Throughout his career, Christopher has continued to work with many of the South West’s leading choirs and choruses and has conducted the majority of the major choral canon. Musical Director of the Bristol Bach Choir from 2012 to 2022 and of Bath’s ‘The Handful’ for a decade at the start of his career, he has since worked as a guest conductor and animateur for Bath Bach Choir, Exeter Festival Chorus, Wells Cathedral Choir, The Really Big Chorus, LSO St Luke’s Community Choir, Bristol Ensemble, Canzona, and Charivari Agréable. As a chorus master and repetiteur, he has worked alongside Richard Hickox, Charles Hazelwood, Diego Masson, Neil Thomson, John Rutter, Nigel Perrin, and Brian Kay. He has also worked with many of the UK’s leading contemporary composers and served on the jury for the Royal Philharmonic Society’s ‘Encore’ competition.
A passionate advocate of the importance of singing in education, Christopher is actively engaged in outreach programmes as a choral adviser, adjudicator, and guest conductor.
A passionate advocate of the importance of singing in education, Christopher is actively engaged in outreach programmes as a choral adviser, adjudicator, and guest conductor.