Biography (Musician)
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 (1949-2026), graduating PhD in 1996 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 and organist. He also works as a music critic, reviewing CDs, new music and scholarly editions, and continues his academic interests, occasionally publishing scholarly articles (on music and organs) 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, Blackheath, 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 former Wanamaker Store in Philadelphia, USA. Chris's publishers include Banks, Church Organ World, 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. Between 2021 and 2026 he was Organist & Choirmaster at St Mary Magdalene's, East Ham. He continues to conduct the St Teilo Singers (a liturgical choir that sings at cathedrals and other major churches) and he took up the post of Musical Director of the Havering Singers in September 2025. From September 2026 he will also be Organist & Director of Music as St Benet Fink, Tottenham.
As a musician, Chris is an active composer, conductor and organist. He also works as a music critic, reviewing CDs, new music and scholarly editions, and continues his academic interests, occasionally publishing scholarly articles (on music and organs) 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, Blackheath, 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 former Wanamaker Store in Philadelphia, USA. Chris's publishers include Banks, Church Organ World, 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. Between 2021 and 2026 he was Organist & Choirmaster at St Mary Magdalene's, East Ham. He continues to conduct the St Teilo Singers (a liturgical choir that sings at cathedrals and other major churches) and he took up the post of Musical Director of the Havering Singers in September 2025. From September 2026 he will also be Organist & Director of Music as St Benet Fink, Tottenham.
