The British cellist Christopher Graves studied with Melissa Phelps at the Royal College of Music, and subsequently with Johannes Goritzki at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana, where he completed his Masters degree in 2012. Previously he studied with Kate Beare. In 2008 he spent a month studying intensively with the late Bernard Greenhouse.
As a chamber musician he has appeared at the Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall and Kings place, and played at festivals including the Kings Place festival, Philharmonia Vienna city of dreams festival, Heidelberg string-quartet festival and Middelburg international chamber music festival. He was also featured in the Royal College of Music ‘Rising Stars’ concert series. Since January 2013 he has been the cellist of the Castalian String Quartet.
As a soloist he has performed in the BBC Proms Plus festival, giving the European premiere of Augusta Read Thomas’ Passion Prayers – for solo cello and chamber ensemble – which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. An active recitalist, engagements in 2012 have taken him to London, Scotland, Wales, Switzerland and France.
He frequently plays as principal cello of Sinfonia Cymru, and was a member of the LSO String Scheme.
He is the recipient of awards from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund and the Musicians Benevolent Fund, and is very grateful for the support of these organisations.