Christopher Horner was born in London and studied violin at the Centre for Young Musicians, Pimlico with Deryck Wareing, Henry Rubin and Eva Graubin. He furthered his studies with Eva Graubin whilst a student at the Royal Academy of Music, Surrey University and as a postgraduate in Barcelona. He has also received coaching advice from Hugh Bean.
Christopher Horner has played as a recitalist, chamber musician and freelancer throughout the UK, in Europe, Asia and South Africa. He has broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and South African TV. Pianists with whom he works include John Lenehan, Lauretta Bloomer and Peter O’Hagan. He has worked extensively as a member of many chamber and symphony orchestras. Chamber ensembles include the PM Ensemble Cardiff and the Durban based contemporary music group Soundwaves.
He performs a wide-ranging repertoire which has included giving the UK premieres of the works for violin and piano by the Lithuanian composer Juozas Gruodis (1884-1948). In 2004, in recognition of his advocacy of Gruodis, he had the distinction of being invited by the Lithuanian Academy of Music to perform in Vilnius where his recital with pianist Zoe Smith attracted much praise from authorities on the composer.
Christopher was invited to teach at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 1999, subsequently becoming Deputy Head of Strings the following year. He left the post in 2009 in order to return to a freelance career. He now teaches violin at Monmouth School for Girls, Monmouth School for Boys and coaches chamber music at the Junior Conservatoire of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
He has recently given recitals with pianists John Lenehan in the UK, including at St David’s Hall Cardiff, and Elke Sanjosé in Barcelona. During the past year he has also given a number of recitals in Wales and England with guitarist John Mills. Next month he begins a tour to India as an Examiner for Trinity College London, with recitals and a recording project planned for the New Year.
His CD of the Works for Violin and Piano by Juozas Gruodis with pianist John Lenehan is available on the Discovery Music and Vision and amazon websites via the following links:
Nimbus Site - 20% discount on when using the code enews20 at check out.
He has written articles for the European String Teachers Association and New Choral Bulletin, and his edition of the Gruodis Violin Sonata was published by the Lithuanian Music and Information Publishing Centre in 2016.
Appreciation
“Christopher Horner is a very fine violinist and musician of wide experience and broad outlook. He has a good sense of communication when performing. His violin playing evinces a serious and sincere musicianship and a well-founded technique which result in performances of intelligence and musical integrity.” Hugh Bean CBE
“Towering challenge of technical virtuosity met with an admirable artistry. Impressive…moods of tenderness, nostalgia, mystery, fun and frolic conveyed in generous measure leaving us certainly wanting more.” Western Mail Cardiff
“A violinist of intellect and distinction.” Peter Esswood, Cellist and Chairman of ESTA 2002-2004
“The gyrations of a bird in flight were skilfully depicted by violinist Christopher Horner in The Lark Ascending” Gloucestershire Echo
“I and my Lithuanian colleagues were particularly taken with your brilliant playing of the sonata for violin and piano by Juozas Gruodis. You have masterfully solved all its problems. Your interpretation was not only technically flawless but also very interesting and convincing” Algirdas Ambrazas Ethnomusicologist and Professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music
CONCERTOS
BACH Concerto No 1 in a minor Concerto No 2 in E major
BEETHOVEN Concerto in D major Op.61
BRUCH Concerto in g minor Op.26
GLAZUNOV Concerto in a minor
HAYDN Concerto in G major
KHACHATURIAN Concerto
MENDELSSOHN Concerto in e minor Op.64
MESSIAEN Louange à l’immortalité de Jésus
MOZART Concerto No 3 in G major K.216, Concerto No 4 in D major K.218, Concerto No 5 in A major K.219
PROKOVIEV Concerto No2 in g minor
ROXBURGH Violin Sonata
STAMITZ Concerto in B flat major
TCHAIKOVSKY Concerto in D major Op.35
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Lark Ascending
VIOTTI Concerto No 22 in a minor
RECITAL WORKS
BACH Sonatas for violin and keyboard, Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin
BEETHOVEN Sonatas for violin and piano: No1 Op.12, No 3 Op.12, Op.23, Op.24, Op30 No2, Op30 No3, Op47 “Kreutzer”
BERKELEY Sonatina and Toccata
BRAHMS Sonatensatz, Sonata Op.78 in G major, Sonata Op.100 in A major, Sonata Op.108 in d minor
MERVYN BURTCH Mobile for violin and guitar
ELGAR Sonata
FALLA Suite Populaire Espagnole, with either piano or guitar
FAURE Sonata in A major
FRANCK Sonata in A major HANDEL, Six sonatas for violin and keyboard
GRUODIS Sonata in d minor, Song of the Sea, A la Chopin, Oriental Dance and Waltz
MESSIAEN Theme and Variations
PAGANINI Sonata Concertata and Cantabile for violin and guitar
PROKOVIEV Five Melodies and Sonata for solo violin Op 115
RAVEL Sonata in G major, Sonate Posthume
RODRIGO Sonata Pimpante, Capriccio for solo violin, Serenade to the Dawn for violin and guitar
SCHUBERT 3 Sonatinas and Duo sonata in A major Op 162
CLARA SCHUMANN Three Romances Op.22
STRAUSS Sonata Op.18 STRAVINSKY Suite Italienne
TCHAIKOVSKY Meditation, Scherzo and Melody
TURINA Sonata No1 in d minor Op51, Sonata No2 “Española” Op.82, Vasks Little Sumer Music El Poema de una Sanluqueña
VIVALDI Sonatas in A major and g minor
YSAŸE Sonatas No1 in g minor, No3 in d minor for solo violin