Our Accompanist, Chris Long

Chris Long has worked as a performing musician in areas ranging from classical/contemporary to rock, jazz, musical theatre, experimental and improvised music, and he has been accompanying choirs for over 30 years.

After gaining his degree at Kingston University he undertook an MA in Composition with Gavin Bryars at De Montfort University, Leicester. Over the years he has written music for choirs, orchestra, dance and TV, and his song 'Mr Capability' (commissioned by the National Trust for the 300th anniversary of the birth of Capability Brown) was recently performed at Croome Court by Tarantara along with over 800 other singers.

As well as having worked with (among others) members of folk-punksters The Pogues and psychedelic rockers Kula Shaker, in 2007-8 Chris played keyboards in the world premiere run of "Monkey: Journey to the West", an opera in Mandarin by Damon Albarn (of pop band Blur).

He has taught music fulltime in further and higher education contexts, and, having worked for many years in the Music Department at Stratford-upon-Avon College, he now works as a freelance musician. As well as accompanying, Chris teaches piano privately and for the Elgar School of Music in Worcester; he also performs as a soloist and in the duo 'Aphelion' with singer Paula Evans.

His compositions and other work can be found at www.chrislongmusic.co.uk