Chris was born in 1973. Since finishing his formal studies at VUW in 2001 Chris has maintained a consistently high profile within the New Zealand music industry. His musicality exhibits a vitality stemming from an improvisational ingenuity that he brings to all his collaborations. He is well established as one of New Zealand’s most versatile musicians and is sought after as a drummer and composer by the most respected musicians, directors and choreographers working in New Zealand and abroad.
Chris regularly performs in Auckland’s improvisation/sound-art music scene, collaborates with established Kiwi music pop icons and teaches music at both UNITEC and Auckland University. Chris is a member of The Phoenix Foundation. He has performed in theatrical productions for the Auckland Theatre Company, Silo, and Jessie Peach Productions. Chris has performed with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, the New Pacific Music Ensemble, WOMAD Festivals in Taranaki and Adelaide, The Wellington International Arts Festival, the Auckland Festival, the Planting Festival (Woodfordia, Brisbane) and as a soloist at the Silver Scrolls. Chris has worked with acclaimed artists such as, Steve Lacy, Marilyn Crispel, Tami Neilson, Jeffrey Henderson, Neil Finn, Jonathan Crayford, Nadia Reid, Richard Nunns, Trinity Roots, Leila Adu, Andrew Keoghan, Golden Horse, Rick Bryant, Tim Finn, to name a few.
A composer of music for theatre and dance, Chris received the Outstanding Composer of Original Music Award at the 2001 Chappman Tripp Theatre Awards, for his work on The Irish Annals of Aotearoa. In the dance world, Chris has collaborated with Sean Curram, Lyn Pringle, Julia Milsom, Touch Compass and the New Zealand Dance Company.
Chris is currently studying towards a Masters in Music Therapy at Victoria University.
career to date:
1997
Publications:
World Music is Where We Found It: Festschrift for Allan Thomas (2011)
Freerange Vol 12: Everything is Temporary (2020)
Places I have taught:
Massey University
Auckland University
AUT
Unitec
John Bolton Theatre School (Auckland)
California Institute of the Arts
Mixit (Auckland)
Chris regularly performs in Auckland’s improvisation/sound-art music scene, collaborates with established Kiwi music pop icons and teaches music at both UNITEC and Auckland University. Chris is a member of The Phoenix Foundation. He has performed in theatrical productions for the Auckland Theatre Company, Silo, and Jessie Peach Productions. Chris has performed with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, the New Pacific Music Ensemble, WOMAD Festivals in Taranaki and Adelaide, The Wellington International Arts Festival, the Auckland Festival, the Planting Festival (Woodfordia, Brisbane) and as a soloist at the Silver Scrolls. Chris has worked with acclaimed artists such as, Steve Lacy, Marilyn Crispel, Tami Neilson, Jeffrey Henderson, Neil Finn, Jonathan Crayford, Nadia Reid, Richard Nunns, Trinity Roots, Leila Adu, Andrew Keoghan, Golden Horse, Rick Bryant, Tim Finn, to name a few.
A composer of music for theatre and dance, Chris received the Outstanding Composer of Original Music Award at the 2001 Chappman Tripp Theatre Awards, for his work on The Irish Annals of Aotearoa. In the dance world, Chris has collaborated with Sean Curram, Lyn Pringle, Julia Milsom, Touch Compass and the New Zealand Dance Company.
Chris is currently studying towards a Masters in Music Therapy at Victoria University.
career to date:
1997
- Auckland and Wellington seasons of ALICE with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, choreographed by Eric Languet, performed with Plan 9.
- Chris established the Peoples Improvisational Front, an open improvised music collective, instrumental in the reinvigoration of freely improvised music in Wellington.
- Wellington International Jazz Festival with Steve Lacy
- Studio 77 season of Innocence of Light, Victoria University of Weelington.
- New Zealand International Arts Festival, performance of the James K Baxter poem The Surfman’s Story with Plan 9.
- New Zealand International Arts Festival season of Blue Smoke, @ Downstage Theatre.
- Christchurch Arts Festival, performance of the James K Baxter poem The Surfman’s Story with Plan 9.
- Taranaki Festival of the Arts, performance of the James K Baxter poem The Surfman’s Story with Plan 9.
- Hamilton Fuel Festival, performance of the James K Baxter poem The Surfman’s Story with Plan 9.
- Wellington International Jazz Festival with the The Urban Taniwha featuring Marilyn Crispell (USA) and Richard Nunns (NZ).
- Wellington International Jazz Festival with The Family Mallet.
- Wellington International Jazz Festival with The Box of Birds
- Musical Director/Composer for a season of the Irish Annals of Aotearoa, Bats Theatre.
- Received the Outstanding Composer of Original Music Award at the 2001 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards, for his work on The Irish Annals of Aotearoa
- Wellington International Jazz Festival with The Box of Birds Big Band.
- New Zealand International Arts Festival with The Underwater Melon Man
- Touring Ireland, England, Holland, Sweden with Grada.
- Touring Germany, Sweden, Denmark, The Czech Republic and Norway with Cloudboy.
- Working in London as a music teacher in various primary schools, and also working with special needs clients .
- Club der Polisches Versagers, Berlin, with Lucien Johnson
- Berlin Festival of Exiles with Cloudboy, Ibadet Ramadani, Aleks Kolkowski, Joe Williamson, and Chris Abrahams.
- Joined the band Surfin USSR while resident in Christchurch.
- APRA Silver Scroll Awards performance with Plan 9
- Musical Director/Composer for Christchurch Summertime Theatre’s season of The Reluctant Doctor of Love.
- Musical Director/Composer of Migrant Nation, nominated for Most Original Production of the Year at the 2005 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards.
- New Zealand International Arts Festival, the Songs of Kurt Weill with Plan 9
- Nelson Festival of the Arts, the Songs of Kurt Weill, with Plan 9
- “Gone to the Beach” Concert with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra
- Auckland Theatre Company season of Sweet Charity, @ Sky City Theatre.
- Taranaki Festival of the Arts, ZIGZAG with Plan 9
- WOMAD New Zealand concert with Don McGlashan, and workshop with Billy Cobham.
- Musical Director/Composer for Silo Theatre production The Cut, @ The Basement Theatre.
- WOMAD New Zealand with SJD.
- WOMADelaide with Don McGlashan
- Auckland Theatre Company season of The Threepenny Opera, @ Maidment Theatre.
- The Big Day Out with SJD.
- The Big Night In with SJD.
- APRA Silver Scroll Awards as Soloist.
- Auckland International Arts Festival with Leila Adu.
- Auckland International Arts Festival performance of ZIGZAG with Plan 9.
- Auckland Arts Festival with SJD.
- Christchurch Arts Festival, season of street theatre performances of My Heart is a Beast.
- Auckland Theatre Company season of Oliver! @ Sky City Theatre
- Silo Theatre season of ASSASSINS @ The Auckland Concert Chamber.
- Musical Director for We Should Practice production of Providence.
- Dove Hunters production of The Sad Lament of Pecos Bil on the eve of Killing His Wife, @ The Basement Theatre.
- Auckland Theatre Company season of Cabaret, @ Salon Perdu Spiegeltent
- New Tour with The Topp Twins and Don McGlashan
- New Zealand International Arts Festival season of Ship Songs, @ The Pacific Blue Festival Club Shed 10.
- Nelson Arts Festival with Greg Malcolm.
- Nelson Arts Festival - Dove Hunters production of The Sad Lament of Pecos Bil on the eve of Killing His Wife.
- Tauranga Arts Festival, Dove Hunters production of The Sad Lament of Pecos Bil on the eve of Killing His Wife.
- Auckland International Arts Festival with Sean James Donnelly and James Duncan.
- Auckland International Arts Festival with the Grant Winterburn Trio.
- Auckland International Arts Festival with Age Pryor .
- Christchurch Arts Festival season of The Songs of Kurt Weill with Plan 9.
- Jessie Peach Productions The Wizard of OZ at the CIVIC in Auckland.
- Auckland Theatre Company season of Poor Boy, @ Maidment Theatre
- Musical Director/Composer for The Edge’s season of The Butcher and the Bear, @ The Herald Theatre.
- TIRAMARAMA Concert with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra featuring Australian Idol winner Stan Walker, legendary 'polyfonk' band Ardijah, soulful singer/songwriter Tama Waipara, diva Maisey Rika, Pacific duo Adeaze and Dr Charles Te Ahukaramu Royal & his ensemble Reo, @ The ASB Theatre.
- the nowNOW Festival in Sydney Australia with Rod Cooper (Australia), Eric Normand (Canada), Simon Ferenci (Australia).
- The Splore Festival with Storehouse.
- Rhythm Rotorua blues festival with Storehouse.
- Solo performance for the Auckland Chamber Orchestra 2012 Season launch at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre.
- Season of SHIP SONGS at Q Theatre with Don McGlashan, Dave Khan, and Ian Hughes.
- New Zealand in L.A. Festival at REDCAT Theatre and California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles USA.
- Improvised music session with instrument maker Tom Nunn and bass player Paul Winstanley in San Fransisco, USA.
- Performances with Veryan Weston and Trevor Watts at Vitamin S.
- National tour with Andrew Keoghan supporting Lawrence Arabia's The Sparrow tour.
- Critically acclaimed season of Ken Duncum and Tim Finn's theatre/music piece WHITE CLOUD at BATS Theatre, Wellington.
- Joined Wellington band the Phoenix Foundation.
- Neil Finn Dizzy Heights showcase tour of LA, NYC and London.
- Premier of the New Zealand Dance Company's show ROTUNDA at Q Theatre, with Don McGlashan.
- New Zealand tour with The Phoenix Foundation.
- European Tour with The Phoenix Foundation/
- Performances with Sixto Rodriguez in Wellington and Auckland.
- Waiheke Jazz Festival with Nathan Haines.
- Performance on Tiritiri Island with Phil Dadson and the Spoilers of Uopia.
- Andrew Keoghan New Zealand Tour.
- Finalist at the APRA Silver Scrolls with The Phoenix Foundation.
- Consultant and composer of music with Touch Compass Dance Company for their work Aquisitions.
- Commissioned to compose new work for theatre troup MASSIVE Co. and New Zealand String Trio - My Bed My Universe.
- Performances in Den Hague and Amsterdam with the New Zealand Dance Company and Don McGlashan of Rotunda.
- Rippon Festival - The Phoenix Foundation
- Big Day Out - The Phoenix Foundation and SJD
- Performance w Neil Finn with Strings at Auckland Town Hall.
- Performances with Jonathan Crayford
- Running rhythm workshops with Touch Compass dance company.
- Performances with Steve Able
- Performances at SPLORE Festival with The Phoenix Foundation and SJD
- Relase and performance of the album Aroha Ahava, with Mere Poynton and Jonathon Besser at the Auckland Festival of Arts.
- Performances with SJD and The Phoenix Fooundation at the Titirangi Music Festival.
- Commission to build instruments for public installation with Auckland City Council and Alt Group, under the name of POP.
- Performances in Sydney and Melbourne with The Phoenix Foundation.
- Release of SJD album Saint John Divine.
- Performances with Tami Neilson at the Planting Festival, Woodfordia Australia.
- Release of Don McGlashan's album Lucky Stars.
- NZ tour with Don McGlashan.
- Release of The Phoenix Foundation's album Give Up Your Dreams.
- Tours of New Zealand, Australia and Europe with The Phoenix Foundation.
- Composed new work (Geography of an Archipelago) for choreographer Stephen Shropshire (Ned) and the New Zealand Dance Co.
- Performances at Sound Splash Music Festival (Raglan) with Cornerstone Roots and The Jonathan Crayford Trio.
- Performance with Nadia Reid at Laneways (Auckland).
- Performance with The Phoenix Foundation at the Nostalgia Festival (Christchurch)
- Performance with Kittens of the Internet at the Auckland Festival of Arts.
- Performance with The Phoenix Foundation at the Welling Internation Festival of Arts.
- Performance with Upper Hutt Posse at The WIne Cellar.
- Recording w Maisey Rika at The Lab Studio for a 2016 Christmas album in Te Reo
- Recording and Filming with Louis Baker, Horomona Hora, Victoria Kelly and Sandy Milne at the Auckland Museum in the Maori Court, for the NZ Music Exhibition.
- Workshopping the show Afterlife with Claire Cowans Blackbird Ensemble and director Sara Brodie.
- Recording music for Taika Waititi's film Hunt for The Wilderpeople.
- Recording music for the remake of the film Pork Pie. Composer Jonathan Crayford.
- Recording music with Don McGlashan for the World of Wearable Arts.
- Performer at the Silver Scroll Awards.
- Recording with the Modern Maori Quartet.
- Recorded with Maisey Rika on her album Tira.
- Performance with The Phoenix Foundation at the Wonderland NYE Music Festival, Auckland.
- Premier of Knot in Copenhagen,, a new composition commissioned by the Danish Dance Theatre Company for a new work by choreographer Stephen Shropshire.
- NZ tour with The Mockers.
- National Tour (NZ) w Greg Malcolm supporting Peter Brotzmann and Heather Leigh.
- National Tour (NZ) w The Modern Maori Quartet.
- Can Man performance at Auckland's Big Day Art w Philip Dadson.
- National Tour (NZ) w Nadia Reid.
- Performance in Vancouver, Canada, with Don McGlashan
- Auckland Arts Festival season of concerts w From Scratch, composer of a new commissioned work (Wobble Ova Oases), and performer, at Te Uru Gallery.
- National tour (NZ) w Nadia Reid.
- Collaboration concerts and national tour between The Phoenix Foundation and The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
- Recording sessions with Don McGlashan for the animated children series Kiri and Lou.
- National tour (NZ) with Delaney Davidson.
- Performances at the Wellington Jazz Festival with Greg Malcolm and John Bell.
- Recording with Paul McClaney, composer for WOW2018.
- Tour of New Zealand and Australia with Don McGlashan.
- Performance with From Scratch at the Wellington City Gallery 555 Moons exhibition.
- Featured extra role in the feature film of the novel The Luminaries.
- Performance in LIP(S) at Auckland Silos with musician Phil Dadson and dancer Carol Brown, curated by Clare Ulenberg.
- My composition Wobble Ova Oases performed by From Scratch at Wellington City Gallery, at the closing of the 555 Moons exhibition.
- National tour w Don McGlashan supporting Marlon Williams.
- WOMAD festival with Nadia Reid.
- Cupadupa with The Phoenix Foundation.
- Festival of Colour in Wanaka, with Nadia Reid.
- Bay of Islands Arts Festival Upsurge, with Nadia Reid.
- Tauranga Jazz Festival with Jim Langabeer's ensemble Secrete Islands.
- Gisborne Beer Festival with The Phoenix Foundation.
- National tour with Delaney Davidson and Barry Saunders.
- National tour of LIVE RUST, tribute to Neil Young.
- commenced volunteer work at the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre.
- Tempo Dance Festival performances w Claire O'Neill (The Fondness of Fools) and Kristian Larsen (Make No Mistake).
- NZ shows w The Mockers
- Year 1 of study towards a Masters of Music Therapy at Victoria University of Wellington.
- NZ Tour w Don McGlashan.
- NZ Tour with The Phoenix Foundation, touring the new album Friend Ship.
- Workshops, presentation and performances of Farm Music at the Taranaki Arts Festival RESET
- recorded new album with Don McGlashan, Shayne Carter and James Duncan, due for release in 2021.
- Appointment to role of Community Music Leader at the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre.
- Year 2 of study towards a Masters of Music Therapy at Victoria University of Wellington.
- Outfields Festival, Hawkes Bay, NZ with The Phoenix Foundation
- Auckland Arts Festival show Spell On You with Delaney Davidson
- Auckland Arts Festival show - Barfolk Ballroom w Michael Parmenter.
- Year long residency at the Wine Cellar with Trioglodite.
- Newtown Festival performance with The Phoenix Foundation
- APRA Silver Scroll nomination with The Phoenix Foundation
- Community Music Leader at the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust
- Release of Don McGlashan album Bright November Morning.
Publications:
World Music is Where We Found It: Festschrift for Allan Thomas (2011)
Freerange Vol 12: Everything is Temporary (2020)
Places I have taught:
Massey University
Auckland University
AUT
Unitec
John Bolton Theatre School (Auckland)
California Institute of the Arts
Mixit (Auckland)