Photo by Nigel Harper

Chris Bishop is currently the 3rd/1st Horn with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, South Africa. Born in England, Chris gained his BA in Music and MA in Music Performance from the University of Southampton and completed a Postgraduate Diploma at Trinity College of Music, London before turning professional in 2005. As a freelancer Chris has played with orchestras and ensembles internationally, most notably the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra and as guest principal with the European Union Chamber Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra of South Africa.

A versatile player, Chris has performed a large number of solo and chamber works including concerti by W.A Mozart and R. Strauss and the Konzertstucke of R. Schumann. He has held the positions of solo horn with the London Contemporary Music Group and the London Myriad Ensemble, of which he was a founding member and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Great Britain. He is also regularly involved in shows and freelance session work. Chris is an experienced instrumental and ensemble coach, including work with the JPO Academy, MIAGI and the South African National Youth Orchestras.

Curriculum Vitae
Christopher Bishop – Horn, Wagner Tuba

Christopher James Bishop Date of Birth: 3rd March 1979 Nationality: British

SA tel: +27 (0)78 133 0371 UK tel: +44 (0)7776 258368 chris@chrisbishop.org

Current Position: 3rd/1st – Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, South Africa

Qualifications
2003-2005 Postgraduate Diploma (Horn).  Trinity College of Music, London
2002-2003 MA Music Performance (Horn).  University of Southampton
1999-2002 BA (Hons) Music, 2.1.  University of Southampton

Orchestral Experience      
African Renaissance Opera (Guest Principal)
British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra
Chamber Orchestra of South Africa (Guest Principal)
European Union Chamber Orchestra (Guest Principal)
Jersey Symphony Orchestra (Principal)
Johannesburg Festival Orchestra (Guest Principal)
Johannesburg Film Orchestra
Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Guest Principal)
National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Great Britain (Solo Horn)
New Orpheus Ensemble (Co-Principal)
The New Professionals
Orchestra of the Swan
Philharmonia Orchestra Education
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Extra Horn)
Seychelles International Festival Orchestra
Swansea City Opera (Solo Horn)

Solo Experience
Mozart’s 3rd Concerto - Brent Symphony Orchestra/Levon Parikian (London, June 2006)
Martin Butler’s ‘Hunding’ for solo horn - London Contemporary Music Group (Cardiff, March & London, May 2007)
R. Schumann ’Konzertstucke’ for 4 horns - Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra/Yasuo Shinozaki (Johannesburg, February 2009)
R. Strauss 1st Concerto – Essex Youth Orchestra/Robin Browning (Florence & Perugia, August 2007)

Chamber Experience (as Solo Horn)
London Contemporary Music Group
London Myriad Ensemble
Marine5
Neptune Ensemble
SE10
Wessex Brass

Teaching Experience
Essex Music Service, Hackney Music Service & Centre for Young Musicians at Morley College, UK
Private Brass Teaching (all ages) since 2000.
Workshops for all ages with NYJO, London Myriad Ensemble, Concordia Foundation.

Referees
Mike Murray  (BBC Symphony, London)  Jonathan Lipton (London Symphony Orchestra)