Chris Houlding
Tenor Trombone Artist
Chris Houlding
Professor, Folkwang University of Arts Essen, Germany
Tutor, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London
International Chair in Trombone, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
Vice Chairman, ITA Executive Board
Instrument Specs
- Model: T350
- Bell: 335CF
- Slide: T-STDN
- Tuning Slide: Rose
- Leadpipe: T2 Brass
Artist Comments
"I play Edwards. Why? Flexibility, versatility, but above all, quality.
"The ultimate in versatility and flexibility - you can really feel the superior quality of Edwards Trombones!"
In 1980, age 20, Chris toured with the London Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Celibidache at the invitation of Denis Wick and was appointed Principal Trombone of the English Northern Philharmonia (now Orchestra of Opera North) in the following year, a seat he held for twenty seven years. Throughout this period he appeared as Guest Principal with most major UK ensembles including the London Symphony, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, Royal Opera House Covent Garden and London Brass. A graduate of London's Guildhall School of Music, he studied with Denis Wick, Eric Crees and Peter Gane, and was awarded the Principal's Prize.
Currently Professor of Trombone and Brass Ensemble at the Folkwang University of Arts, Essen, Germany and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London and after two decades as Senior Tutor in Brass, Chris is now Visiting International Tutor at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music, regular Trombone Professor with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and European Union Youth Orchestra. He gives recitals and masterclasses throughout the world, including Juilliard, Eastman and conservatoires in St Petersburg, Moscow, Porto and Oslo.
In 2003 Chris represented the UK in the World Orchestra for Peace under Valery Gergiev and has appeared as soloist in the Elgar Howarth Concerto (under the composer) and Concertos by Grondahl, Bourgeois and Albrechtsberger (as soloist/director). A clinician for the Edwards Instrument Company, he hosted the IPV Symposium in Essen (2010) and appeared as guest artist at International Trombone Festivals in Aarhus (2009), Las Vegas (2007) Birmingham (2006), Slide Factory Rotterdam (2009), IPV Symposium Stuttgart (2009), Eastern Trombone Workshop Washington (2008) and Scandanavian Trombone Festival Sweden (2007). Following a four year term as President of the British Trombone Society, Chris was invited to become Vice Chair of the International Trombone Association Executive Board, a position which he still holds.
His solo CD entitled houlding his own was issued in 2008 on the SRC label.
As adjudicator, he has served on international juries including the Internationaler Instrumentalwettbewerb Markneukirchen, First International Wind Competition Moscow, Turkish Young Musician of the Year, Norwegian and British Brass Band Championships, Feis Ceoil Dublin and the Royal Overseas League Music Competition an is a regular contributor to numerous brass journals.
Chris was awarded an MMus in Conducting by the Royal Northern College of Music in 2005 and held the position of Music Director with the Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra for six years. Conducting engagements have included the Bochumer Symphoniker, Sinfonie Orchester Wuppertal, Duisburg Philharmoinker, Orchestra of Opera North, Orchestras and Ensembles at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Trinity College of Music, RNCM, Music Academies in Norway and Denmark and Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
Latest Blog Post
An Interview with Craig Mulcahy
Chances are, if you’ve been to see a performance of the National Symphony Orchestra in the last eight years, you’ve had the pleasure of hearing Craig Mulcahy lead the trombone section. Mulcahy has been a member of the NSO since 2005 and its principal trombonist since 2010. He has brought his very own richness, color, [...] more ››
In Their Own Words
"I have a few important expectations of my instrument: it should sound good, be comfortable to play, and allow me the flexibility to fit into a wide variety of musical situations. My Edwards fulfills all of those expectations. A truly top-quality instrument."
Jeremy Wilson
Second Trombonist, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra