Christopher Moore

Born at a very young age, Christopher Moore’s formative years were shaped by the rich amateur choral scene in Newcastle, NSW. His mother played the organ at their local Catholic church and has sung in the University of Newcastle Choir since its inception in 1977.

Acclaimed worldwide for his musicianship, Christopher enjoys a distinguished career as an orchestral and chamber musician, soloist, conductor and teacher. After ten years as Principal Viola of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, in 2015 he joined the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as Principal Viola. He is in demand as a principal player with the Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Queensland, Tasmanian, New Zealand Symphony orchestras, Australian World Orchestra and the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, Japan. Being a half-decent viola player means that Christopher is in high demand as a chamber musician around the country and overseas — this is his fifth time at the Martinborough Music Festival.

He is a proud father of two talented teenage girls: Isabella plays upright and electric bass, Dorothea plays cello and drums, and they both sing in Young Voices of Melbourne. Christopher also plays Theremin. If you don’t know what that is, just ask him — a hint, he hasn’t touched it for years!

Christopher is fortunate enough to be able to play a 1610 Giovanni Paolo Maggini viola – kindly on loan from an anonymous benefactor.