Chris Jeans

Chris Jeans holds the position of Principal trombone of the Virtuosi GUS Band. He began his career, playing the trombone in his hometown of Yeovil before moving onto Sunlife, Desford Colliery, Grimethorpe Colliery, Rigid Containers, Ransome Band and the Black Dyke Mills Band.

As a player he has held the title of Champion Trombone Player of Great Britain. Chris also won the title Brass in Concert Solo Champion on two occasions accompanied by the Rigid Containers Band, now newly named the Virtuosi GUS Band.

During his association with brass bands he has won the National Champion Band of Great Britain on seven occasions, Champion of Champions, the All England Masters, French Open Champions, three times winners of the British Open Championships, Hat-tricks on BBC Best of Brass and Granada TV Band of the Year competitions, to name a few. As a soloist Chris has featured on television, radio and even the national press.

Chris has toured extensively across the world playing in prestigious concerts appearing alongside many high profile artists such as Elton John, the Spice Girls, Evelyn Glennie, London Symphony Orchestra Brass and Paul McCartney to name a few. As a soloist Chris has performed in venues such as the Carnegie Hall (New York), and the Royal Albert Hall (London) and must be the only soloist to perform at 35,000 ft in the air! He was the first brass band trombonist to produce his own solo album, has three albums and two books bearing his name, and is currently in demand as an international soloist, conductor and adjudicator.

Chris is a trombone clinician for the French brass instrument manufacturer Antoine Courtois (Paris). For the past two decades, trombone virtuoso Chris Jeans has been the Artistic Director of Youth Brass 2000. This successful relationship began shortly after the formation of the then called 'Rigid Containers Youth Brass 2000'. The Band under his leadership has gone on to win the National Youth Entertainment Championships of Great Britain on three occasions, BBC Radio 2 Youth Band of the Year, the British Open Youth Championships and Double Hat-trick winners of the Youth Section of the French Open Championships. As a teacher Chris holds the position of Brass Co-Ordinator at Leicester Grammar School.