Chris Orton

Chris Orton serves as a Recorder Tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (Birmingham City University) and holds concurrent teaching positions at the Royal Northern College of Music, Chetham’s School of Music, University of Huddersfield, and Junior RNCM. He is Musical Director of the National Youth Recorder Orchestra and conductor of the Junior RNCM Chamber Orchestra.

His educational journey began at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he studied recorder under Ross Winters and Annabel Knight, and later with Anneke Boeke in Amsterdam. He pursued orchestral conducting at ESMUC in Barcelona with Jordi Mora and completed his Dalcroze Eurhythmics certification in 2017 under Bethan Habron-James.

Orton's professional focus integrates performance and education. As a recorder virtuoso, he specializes in contemporary repertoire, frequently commissioning new works and collaborating with composers across Europe. His innovative performances incorporate modern recorder designs and live electronics. In education, he has extensive experience in school music programs and youth orchestras, having taught for Manchester Music Service for a decade and conducted the Birmingham Schools’ Recorder Sinfonia.

Notable accolades include the Moeck/SRP International Solo Recorder Competition 1st Prize (2007), BBC Performing Arts Fund Bursary (2007), and the Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal (2004). His 2023 solo CD 'Cádiz' features works by Sören Sieg.