Christopher Gabbitas
Encyclopedia
Christopher Alan Gabbitas, baritone
with the King's Singers
was born on 15 May 1979 in Plymouth
, the son of Dr. Brian and Mrs Evelyn Gabbitas. The family moved to Kent after his father ended a career as a Royal Naval Officer and switched to the world of academia. He attended The King's School, Rochester
before winning a music scholarship to Uppingham School
. He went to St John's College, Cambridge
as a choral scholar
where he read law; he was part of, and occasionally directed, "The Gentlemen of St John's." He also sang with "Collegium Regale," the modern-day equivalent of The King's Singers at King's College, and Cibus Amoris. After graduating in 2000 with a degree in law, he attended the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice. In 2001, he began training to be a lawyer with the London firm, Stephenson Harwood, qualifying as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court in 2003.
Whilst practising as a lawyer he maintained his singing career, performing with many groups including Polyphony, The English Concert, The King's Consort, and in the inaugural concert of European Voices in a performance of Wagner's "Parsifal" at the BBC Proms under Sir Simon Rattle. He also sang as a Gentleman of the Temple Church (of "Da Vinci Code" fame) under Stephen Layton, where he performed in Sir John Tavener's epic work "The Veil of the Temple" in 2003.
He joined the King's Singers
as their 2nd Baritone in early 2004, following an extensive audition process, deciding to put his legal career on hold.
Whilst on tour in America in late 2004 he met Stephanie Seales, and they married in the summer of 2006 in America and England. They divide their time between a home in London and family in the US and New Zealand.
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
with the King's Singers
King's Singers
The King's Singers is a British a cappella vocal ensemble who celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2008. Their name recalls King's College in Cambridge, England, where the group was formed by six choral scholars in 1968. In the United Kingdom, their popularity peaked in the 1970s and early 1980s...
was born on 15 May 1979 in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, the son of Dr. Brian and Mrs Evelyn Gabbitas. The family moved to Kent after his father ended a career as a Royal Naval Officer and switched to the world of academia. He attended The King's School, Rochester
The King's School, Rochester
The King's School, Rochester is an independent school in Rochester, Kent. It is a cathedral school, and being part of the foundation of Rochester Cathedral, the Dean of Rochester Cathedral serves as the chair of the school's governing body...
before winning a music scholarship to Uppingham School
Uppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
. He went to St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
as a choral scholar
Choral scholar
A choral scholar is a student either at a university or private school who receives a scholarship in exchange for singing in the school or university's choir...
where he read law; he was part of, and occasionally directed, "The Gentlemen of St John's." He also sang with "Collegium Regale," the modern-day equivalent of The King's Singers at King's College, and Cibus Amoris. After graduating in 2000 with a degree in law, he attended the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice. In 2001, he began training to be a lawyer with the London firm, Stephenson Harwood, qualifying as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court in 2003.
Whilst practising as a lawyer he maintained his singing career, performing with many groups including Polyphony, The English Concert, The King's Consort, and in the inaugural concert of European Voices in a performance of Wagner's "Parsifal" at the BBC Proms under Sir Simon Rattle. He also sang as a Gentleman of the Temple Church (of "Da Vinci Code" fame) under Stephen Layton, where he performed in Sir John Tavener's epic work "The Veil of the Temple" in 2003.
He joined the King's Singers
King's Singers
The King's Singers is a British a cappella vocal ensemble who celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2008. Their name recalls King's College in Cambridge, England, where the group was formed by six choral scholars in 1968. In the United Kingdom, their popularity peaked in the 1970s and early 1980s...
as their 2nd Baritone in early 2004, following an extensive audition process, deciding to put his legal career on hold.
Whilst on tour in America in late 2004 he met Stephanie Seales, and they married in the summer of 2006 in America and England. They divide their time between a home in London and family in the US and New Zealand.