Chris Parsons is a musician, conductor, trumpeter and teacher. He read Music at the University of York before completing his Masters in Historical Performance Practice at the Royal College of Music. In September 2022 he won the 'Best Music Director' Award 2022 from Making Music for his work in Community Music and Ely Hero Award 2022 for his work with the Ely Arts Festival. As a trumpeter, he has performed across the UK and Europe, both as a soloist and as an orchestra player, including with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Gabrieli Consort and Players, International Baroque Players, Les Violons du Roy and Manchester Baroque. He has performed as part of the BBC Proms live on BBC Radio 3 and as an orchestral trumpeter in the London Handel Festival. Chris conducts all eras of music and has directed many major orchestral and choral works. He is passionate about community music and directs a number of community-based ensembles. He firmly believes in making classical music accessible and engaging to all. He is a keen club cricketer and an avid Sunderland football fan.