Christopher J. Monckton
Encyclopedia
Christopher John Monckton (born 23 March 1954 at Ipswich
, England
), is a conductor
, singer, and organ
recitalist and accompanist.
The son of an eye surgeon, Monckton was educated at Gresham's School
(where he learnt to play the organ), and Magdalen College, Oxford
(where he held a choral scholarship
and read English). Graduating from Oxford
in 1976 he attended a Law School in Guildford
, Surrey
. A further scholarship in literature and the fine arts took him to a cultural foundation at Vence
in France
. He became organist of the Basilica of Notre Dame de Nice
, taught music at a choir school for boys in Grasse
, and studied music at the Nice
Conservatoire.
He has performed (as a solo singer, organist, and conductor) in almost every western and central European country. His performances in the British Isles include a song recital at St John's, Smith Square, and St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. He is based mainly in France.
Monckton also lectures around the world. In 2005, he formed a travel company, Thomas Martlet Ltd, to organize cultural tours to places of artistic, architectural and musical interest.
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
), is a conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, singer, and organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
recitalist and accompanist.
The son of an eye surgeon, Monckton was educated at Gresham's School
Gresham's School
Gresham’s School is an independent coeducational boarding school in Holt in North Norfolk, England, a member of the HMC.The school was founded in 1555 by Sir John Gresham as a free grammar school for forty boys, following King Henry VIII's dissolution of the Augustinian priory at Beeston Regis...
(where he learnt to play the organ), and Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
(where he held a choral scholarship
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...
and read English). Graduating from Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1976 he attended a Law School in Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. A further scholarship in literature and the fine arts took him to a cultural foundation at Vence
Vence
Vence is a commune set in the hills of the Alpes Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France between Nice and Antibes.-Population:-Sights:...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He became organist of the Basilica of Notre Dame de Nice
Notre-Dame de Nice
The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice is a Roman Catholic Neo-Gothic basilica situated on the Avenue Jean-Médecin in the centre of Nice, in France....
, taught music at a choir school for boys in Grasse
Grasse
-See also:*Route Napoléon*Ancient Diocese of Grasse*Communes of the Alpes-Maritimes department-External links:*...
, and studied music at the Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
Conservatoire.
He has performed (as a solo singer, organist, and conductor) in almost every western and central European country. His performances in the British Isles include a song recital at St John's, Smith Square, and St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. He is based mainly in France.
Monckton also lectures around the world. In 2005, he formed a travel company, Thomas Martlet Ltd, to organize cultural tours to places of artistic, architectural and musical interest.