In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Christopher Gabbitas Biography

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Born: 1979. Living in: Redlands.
Christopher Gabbitas began singing in the ancient Cathedral in Rochester, UK, as an 8-year-old treble, and has enjoyed an unbroken professional musical career ever since. He continued his musical studies in voice, keyboard, and viola as a music scholar at Uppingham School, and was awarded a Choral Scholarship to St John's College, Cambridge in 1997. There he combined his choral studies with a degree in Law, moving across to Christ Church, Oxford as a Lay Clerk and to continue postgraduate legal studies in 2000. Whilst at University, Christopher led several choral ensembles as conductor and musical director, which fostered a deep love of diverse choral repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day.

In London, alongside working as an attorney, Christopher sang with many of Britain's finest choral ensembles including Polyphony, The English Concert, The King's Consort, and European Voices - with whom he was part of the first Wagner Opera to be performed at the BBC Proms, under Sir Simon Rattle. He also sang regularly at the Temple Church in London, working with composers such as Sir John Tavener on his epic all-night vigil, The Veil of the Temple.

Between 2004-2019 Christopher sang as the second baritone in The King's Singers, performing around 2,000 concerts in over 40 countries and on six continents worldwide. He appeared on more than 30 albums, jointly commissioned 25 new compositions from the worlds finest composers, and served as a clinician in over 500 masterclasses - including at many of the top US colleges and universities. As Managing Partner for the group, Christopher helped to set up The King's Singers' charitable foundations in both the UK and US, and worked to raise funds for numerous charities around the world. Industry recognition during his time in the group included two Grammy Awards as singer and producer, and in 2013 The King's Singers were inducted into the inaugural Gramophone Hall of Fame - one of only two vocal ensembles currently to enjoy this honor.

In 2018, The King's Singers celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a 150-date GOLD World Tour and album release, and following this Christopher left the group in order to pursue a career in education and choral direction. In August 2019, he begins a position as Artist Professor at the University of Redlands, CA, teaching a unique Master's degree course (co-written with Dr. Nicholle Andrews and Dr. Joseph Modica) that focuses on elite choral performance alongside music business education, with the aim of producing professional musicians who understand the commercial reality of the industry. Christopher is passionate about the need for musicians to understand the importance of sustainability for arts organizations, and hopes to be able to preach this message far and wide in order to safeguard the future of live classical music performance.

Following a 2-year search process, in May 2019 Christopher was appointed as Artistic Director for the Phoenix Chorale, succeeding Charles Bruffy. He is thrilled to be working with such an innovative and ambitious organization, to be directing an ensemble of dedicated and talented singers, and to be doing so in the beautiful state of Arizona. Christopher's mission is to spread the joy of choral music to anyone who will listen, across the world, through the voices of the Phoenix Chorale.

Member of King's Singers - Baritone - Former