Biography
Chris Maxim was born in Wrexham, North Wales. At the age of 7 he joined the choir of St Margaret's Church and it was there that his love of choral and organ music was first fostered. Having improvised on the piano for as long as he can remember, he started composing notated pieces aged 9. Following his family’s move to the Wirral when he was 13, Chris studied organ with Patricia Phillips (1933-2005) at St Andrew’s, West Kirby and Roger Fisher (1936-2021) Organist and Master of the Choristers at Chester Cathedral. At 16 he was appointed Organist and Choirmaster of St Michael & All Angels, Newton, Wirral. Aged 18 Chris took up an Organ Scholarship at the University of Bristol, where his tutor and organ teacher was Dr Glyn Jenkins (RIP 2022), and where he was a recipient of the Napier Miles Prize. He won a full Research Studentship to Cardiff University and studied under the supervision of Dr David Humphreys, graduating PhD at the age of 25. His other musical qualifications include the LMusTCL and Fellowships of London, Trinity and the Victoria Colleges of Music (FLCM, FTCL, FVCM).
As a musician, Chris is an active composer, conductor, organist and pianist. He also works as a music critic, reviewing CDs, new music and scholarly editions, and continues his academic interests, occasionally publishing scholarly articles and editions of music (including practical performing editions). His primary musical passion is composition and his output includes choral music, instrumental music and songs. His music is performed in countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, the Channel Islands, China, Denmark, Holland, Germany, South Africa and the USA; as well as throughout Great Britain. His music has also been broadcast on BBC and American radio; recorded on several CDs; and featured in music festivals (including the Vale of Glamorgan, Machynlleth and Gloucester Three Choirs). It has been performed in such prestigious venues as St Paul's Cathedral, London and many other British cathedrals, the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, and on the largest fully functioning pipe organ in the world in Macy's (formerly the Wanamaker Store) in Philadelphia, USA. Chris's publishers include Banks Music Publications, Fagus, The Royal School of Church Music (St James Music Press in the USA), and Stainer & Bell. His main publisher is Paraclete Press (USA) and he has been one of the featured composers in their Music Monday series. A large selection of his music is also available online at scoreexchange.com. From 2003-2021 Chris conducted the Giltspur Singers, a London-based chamber choir, which he founded. He continues to conduct the St Teilo Singers (a liturgical choir that sings at cathedrals and other major churches) and, since January 2021, he has been Organist & Choirmaster at St Mary Magdalene's, East Ham.
His teaching experience includes private tuition, higher education and secondary education, in which his various school roles have included Head of Music, Gifted & Talented Students Coordinator, Head of Performing Arts, Deputy Headteacher and Headteacher. He holds a PGCE in Secondary Music from the Institute of Education of the University of London (now part of UCL). He is a Fellow of the College of Teachers (FCOT), a Chartered London Teacher, and holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). Chris is currently a diploma examiner for the Guild of Church Musicians and an ABRSM examiner. He is also a leadership coach, assessor and moderator for the National Professional Qualifications in school leadership, and a Member of Teaching Staff of Junior Trinity. As an Education Consultant he supports schools and trains fellow professionals in the areas of school leadership and music/performing arts and has been a Subject Tutor in Music for Teach First.
As a musician, Chris is an active composer, conductor, organist and pianist. He also works as a music critic, reviewing CDs, new music and scholarly editions, and continues his academic interests, occasionally publishing scholarly articles and editions of music (including practical performing editions). His primary musical passion is composition and his output includes choral music, instrumental music and songs. His music is performed in countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, the Channel Islands, China, Denmark, Holland, Germany, South Africa and the USA; as well as throughout Great Britain. His music has also been broadcast on BBC and American radio; recorded on several CDs; and featured in music festivals (including the Vale of Glamorgan, Machynlleth and Gloucester Three Choirs). It has been performed in such prestigious venues as St Paul's Cathedral, London and many other British cathedrals, the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, and on the largest fully functioning pipe organ in the world in Macy's (formerly the Wanamaker Store) in Philadelphia, USA. Chris's publishers include Banks Music Publications, Fagus, The Royal School of Church Music (St James Music Press in the USA), and Stainer & Bell. His main publisher is Paraclete Press (USA) and he has been one of the featured composers in their Music Monday series. A large selection of his music is also available online at scoreexchange.com. From 2003-2021 Chris conducted the Giltspur Singers, a London-based chamber choir, which he founded. He continues to conduct the St Teilo Singers (a liturgical choir that sings at cathedrals and other major churches) and, since January 2021, he has been Organist & Choirmaster at St Mary Magdalene's, East Ham.
His teaching experience includes private tuition, higher education and secondary education, in which his various school roles have included Head of Music, Gifted & Talented Students Coordinator, Head of Performing Arts, Deputy Headteacher and Headteacher. He holds a PGCE in Secondary Music from the Institute of Education of the University of London (now part of UCL). He is a Fellow of the College of Teachers (FCOT), a Chartered London Teacher, and holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). Chris is currently a diploma examiner for the Guild of Church Musicians and an ABRSM examiner. He is also a leadership coach, assessor and moderator for the National Professional Qualifications in school leadership, and a Member of Teaching Staff of Junior Trinity. As an Education Consultant he supports schools and trains fellow professionals in the areas of school leadership and music/performing arts and has been a Subject Tutor in Music for Teach First.
