About Christopher Bond

Christopher has developed a reputation as one of the most sought-after composers for brass band of his generation. Since 2015, he has been Composer in Residence to the world-famous Cory Band, working as a composer, conductor and educator across several fields.

Christopher is a professional composer, conductor and musical director, originating in Cornwall and now based in Cardiff where he graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music in 2014. Since 2015, he has been Composer in Residence to the world-famous Cory Band and has had his work performed extensively across five continents. In the United Kingdom, his work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 3, 4 & Classic FM.

 Christopher has composed and conducted the orchestral soundtracks for Magic in the Skies, the summer season of firework displays at iconic British landmark Land’s End since 2014, for which he’s worked and recorded with BAFTA-winning actress Miriam Margolyes & actor John Nettles. The most recent soundtrack premiered in 2022 across twelve displays.

As a composer, his works have been chosen as the set-works at the UK Regional Brass Band Championships, the National Brass Band Championships of France, Switzerland and Ireland as well as both the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain & European Youth Brass Band Championships. Additionally, in 2012 The Royal Diamond Jubilee Fanfare was commissioned and performed in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh as part of the Diamond Jubilee Tour. In 2015, Christopher won the Cyril Beere Award for the Best New Composition at Brass in Concert at The Sage, Gateshead.

 As an adjudicator and judge, Christopher has sat on panels for BBC Young Musician, the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, UniBrass (University Brass Band Championship of Great Britain & Northern Ireland), UK Regional Brass Band Championships and Cory Band's Composition Prize, amongst others. Christopher is on the Executive of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators.

 In theatre, Christopher regularly works as a Musical Director for professional production company Imagine Theatre on their productions. He has recently finished co-writing a children’s musical, Scaredy Bugs, which has received its workshop performance and will be released for international licensing later this year.

 Christopher is a Director of Create! Music Education, which delivers Tongwynlais Music Academy; a flourishing music school in Cardiff, and is currently studying for a Masters at the Royal College of Music, London, which he’s completing alongside his portfolio of work.

About The Cory Band

The Cory Band made history in 2016 by winning an elusive Grand Slam and becoming the first band in history to be Quadruple Champions - simultaneously holding the National, Open, European and Brass in Concert titles. This cemented a remarkable ten consecutive years at the top of the World Rankings. However, the band has a long and illustrious history. Formed in 1884, it originally bore the name 'Ton Temperance'. In 1895 Sir Clifford Cory, the local colliery owner, heard the band and offered to provide financial assistance, resulting in the band's change of name to Cory.

In 1980, the band became European Champion and in 1984, its centenary year, it won the third in a hat-trick of National titles at the Royal Albert Hall, London, conducted by the charismatic Major Arthur Kenney. In 2000 the band achieved a historic double by winning both the Nationals and, for the first time in its history, the British Open, conducted by Dr. Robert Childs. In 2008-10 the band achieved a hat-trick of European titles.

Since 2012, the band has been conducted by Philip Harper, winning another three European titles (2013, 2016, 2019), four Nationals (2013, 2015, 2016 & 2019), five Brass in Concert titles (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019) and three British Open (2016, 2018, 2019). In 2014, it became the inaugural winner of TV Channel S4C's Band Cymru programme and repeated this achievement in 2018. It toured Australia in 2013, and the USA in 2016; 40 years after its last visit.

The Cory Band has also developed musically outside of the contest field. In 2001, together with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, it was appointed as resident ensemble to the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, and in the same year appointed Dr. John Pickard as its Composer in Residence. John Pickard's tenure with the band ended in 2005 when the band made history giving the premiere performance of his Gaia Symphony at the prestigious Cheltenham International Festival. The Symphony was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, and lasting over an hour in duration, is currently the largest scale original work in the repertory.

The Cory Band is recognised as one of the Principality's finest and most innovative music ensembles. Its numerous CD recordings and live concert performances have received worldwide acclaim.

The Cory Band In Concert

Aristotle's Air, Christopher Bond (2015)

Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen arr. Christopher Bond (2019)

The Lost Village of Imber, Christopher Bond (2020)