Monday 19th May 12:00 PM
Chris was born in 1979 in Stourbridge, near Dudley, West Midlands. He attended New Road Methodist Church in Stourbridge. As a youngster he had an interest in anything technical so it is perhaps no surprise that walking past the organ console one Sunday aged 9 he spotted the "strange" names written on the stops and became inquisitve. As a result of this curiosity he was allowed to have a go on this "monster" and "make some noise". It must have been tuneful for the organist said that he had the ability and should consider having lessons. This he did and he received tutoring from the assistant organist at St Thomas's Church in Stourbridge on a large pipe organ.
For the next couple of years Chris developed his church organ playing technique until a family day out to Blackpool saw him introduced to a different kind of instrument at the world famous Blackpool Tower - the theatre organ! As before, curiosity stepped in and Chris discovered a theatre organ on which to practice on in Malvern.
Since then Chris has played many church and theatre organs (both pipe and electronic) spanning Glasgow to Southampton! It is pleasing to know that he has of course worked out what the "strange" names written on the stops actually mean!
Chris is a strong believer that the church organ is equally capable of playing entertainment music just as it is classical as will be demonstrated this evening. This is an area in which Chris is becoming well known for (being heavily inspired by the BBC organist Nigel Ogden) and as a result is slowly starting to make a name both in the church and theatre organ world.
Organist at St Mary's Methodist Church in Handforth, Cheshire, Chris is kept busy playing for weddings, funerals, flower festivals and now concerts! He is very pleased to be able to play at Holy Trinity today.
Chris lives in Bolton with partner Michelle, his grandmother Peggy (whom he is full time carer for), their 8 cats (this is not a typing error!) and his pride and joy - a vintage 1950s Compton "electrone" organ. Other interests include railways, travelling, architecture and clocks.
Tickets: £7.00
Doors Open: 11.45am
Website: www.christhompsonorganist.piczo.com/
