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Renowned Scottish Pianist Christopher Baxter is in constant demand as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician, and has given many performances throughout the UK, (including the Royal Festival, Steinway, Wigmore and Usher Halls), at international festivals in France and Italy, the Faroe Islands and in China, South Korea and Singapore. Forthcoming appearances include recitals with the Korca Ensemble and a series of performances and recordings of the piano works of Eddie McGuire and John Hearne.
Christopher has many long standing chamber music partnerships, including flautist Richard Criag, violinist Alan John, 'cellist Laura Sergeant, trumpeter Tom Poulson and soprano Jessica Leary, and is a founder member of Brass Diversions and the Korça Ensemble. From the outset of his professional life, a devotion to contemporary music has seen Christopher involved the premiere performances of more than 30 works by notable composers and he has appeared on several BBC Radio and Television broadcasts.
Hailing from Aberdeen in the North East of Scotland, Christopher began his musical studies there with Marija Markovic and later with Robert Howie at the Aberdeen City Music School. He continued at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), completing his BMus (1st Class Honours) and MMus (Distinction), where he was tutored by Aaron Shorr, Graeme McNaught and Fali Pavri, as well as receiving regular coaching from the renowned pianist, Nigel Clayton. In addition to success in numerous competitions, Christopher benefitted from masterclasses with such luminaries as Roy Howat, Murray McLachlan, Hyoung-Joon Chang, Malcolm Martineau, Roger Vignoles, Julius Drake and Martin Katz.
As an accompanist, Christopher has been involved with several international instrumental competitions, masterclasses and festivals, and between 2009 and 2010, he held the position of Accompaniment Fellow at the RSAMD and was awarded the annual Accompaniment Prize. Activities as an educationalist have seen Christopher give masterclasses and seminars on piano technique and repertoire across the globe, most recently in China, Hong Kong and India. Christopher holds posts as Staff Pianist at the University of Edinburgh, Staff Accompanist at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and piano teacher and accompanist at the specialist music school of Douglas Academy in Glasgow. In 2012, Christopher became the first Associate Accompanist of the National Youth Choir of Scotland and was the resident Concert Pianist at Loretto School in Musselburgh for over 10 years. As a pianist on the Live Music Now scheme, Christopher gave more than 250 performances, and as a grade, jazz and diploma examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, he has travelled extensively throughout the UK and Asia.
"... beautiful, liquid playing..."
- King's School Concert Society, Ely
"John Hearne's Pictograms were shaped with tenderness, and in their wilder moments, vivid displays of virtuosity." - Inverurie Music