Christopher King

During a very successful 25-year career as a cornet player and conductor in the British Army, Chris King renewed his relationship with brass bands, primarily as Musical Director of the Friary Brass Band. During his tenure, the band has had repeated contest success including victory at the 2010 First Section National Championships and the 2014 Senior Trophy, London Regional champions in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. He regularly acts as guest conductor to bands in the UK, including Grimethorpe and Desford Colliery Bands.

As well as conducting Friary on a regular basis, Chris has worked as conductor in Denmark, Norway and Sweden and has adjudicated at a number of prestigious competitions including various Regional Championships, SIDDIS Elite Section, Brass in Concert, the National Championships of Great Britain and Wychavon Festival of Brass.

Chris finished his time in the Army as the Bandmaster of the Band of the Grenadier Guards in London, and now works as Director of Operations at a famous senior school in West London, where he and his wife and two daughters live. He is also a Governor of two other schools, Treasurer of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators and Chair of the Music Commission of the European Brass Band Association. With what little spare time he has left, he enjoys arranging.