ABOUT CHRIS JEANS:
Trombone Virtuoso Chris Jeans was born in Yeovil, Somerset on 24th September 1960. After being introduced to the trombone at the the age of 13, he immediately began what has been a lifelong relationship with bands and especially his precious trombones. Beginning in his home town Chris joined Yeovil Town Band, and within a year was performing with a semi-professional Dance Band called the Legionnaires.
At the age of 15 Chris was invited to join the Stanshawe Briston Band, which was later to be called the Sunlife Band under the direction of 'the wee professor' Walter Hargreaves. Chris quickly realised that musical activity was limited in the South and therefore at the age of 18 moved to the Midlands to join the Ibstock Building Products Band.
In 1981 Chris achieved the accolade of Champion Trombone Player of Great Britain, and was consequently offered the Principal Trombone chair with the world famous Desford Colliery Dowty Band under the direction of Howard Snell. During his period at Desford, the combination of first class musicians mixed with the genius and innovative ideas from Howard Snell made this ensemble a formidable success. Chris experienced many contest wins whilst performing with Desford including the Granada TV Band of the Year hatrick, BBC Best of Brass hatrick, Champions of Champions, European Championships and many Mineworkers Championships and Area contests.
In 1987 Chris was enticed to take up the position of Principal Trombone with Grimethorpe Colliery Band. This position he held for only 8 months, even though he had been filling the chair for the past two years. During the short period with Grimethorpe they won the Champion Brass Contest, and the Mineworkers Championship as well as coming 3rd in the British Open. However, he was missing the Desford Band and returned under the new conductor - James Watson. The winning combination continued as they won the National Finals in 1988 & 1989. It was during this period that Chris realised that he could pass on his wealth of talent to the next generations of brass players, and his dedication to youth began - beginning with the appointment of Resident Conductor of the Desford Colliery Youth Band.
In 1990 a move to the Rigid Containers Band (formerly the Gus Band - now Travelsphere) as Principal Trombone and Resident Conductor, and Professional Conductor of the newly formed Rigid Containers Youthbrass 2000. Whilst playing with Rigid Containers Chris was crowned Brass in Concert Soloist in 1991 & 1992. However, before he could complete the hatrick he moved to the Black Dyke Mills Band, who do not compete in this contest.
Chris enjoyed the 5 glorious years with Black Dyke, notching up another 2 British Open wins, 2 Nationals wins and 1 European crown. In 1998 due to the gruelling 276-mile round trip, and wishing to concentrate on his dedication to youth and his wife, Chris begrudgingly relinquished his position with Black Dyke.
The success of Youthbrass 2000 as one of the countries finest youth bands is testament to Chris' guidance and effort over the years. Over the years Youthbrass have won many accolades such as: The Action Research Entertainment Championships of Great Britain on many an occasion, BBC Radio 2 Youth Band of the Year and French Open Youth Champions as well as the runner up prize in the European Youth Championships. Chris was also the Professional Conductor for the Band of the Ancient Order of Foresters for 10 years, during which time they won titles such as the French Open Championships.
However, at the turn of the new millennium Chris felt it was time for a change and after several visits to the Ransome Band in Newark, realised that the buzz with being involved in a top Championship Band was too strong to resist and so immediately accepted te offer of being Resident Conductor and Professional Trombone for the Ransome Band - who were at the time Champion Band of England. This decision meant that he had to relinquish his position with the Foresters, who have since merged with Brass 2000 (a group of past members from Youthbrass 2000).
Subsequently, Chris joined YBS (Yorkshire Building Society Band) where he was their Principal Trombonist. In September 2003, they won the British Open, Yorkshire Area Championships and a double Hat-Trick at the 2004 European Brass Band Championships.
During his association with brass bands Chris has featured on television, radio and even the national press. He has toured extensively across the world playing in prestigious concerts appearing alongside many high profile artists and feels 'one of the luckiest people in the World', due to the fact that he manages to earn a living from his music. Most people can only manage to play in bands as a hobby, but for Chris it is his life, one which he thoroughly enjoys. How many people can genuinely say that they enjoy their jobs?
During the day, Chris is a full-time peripatetic teacher in the Nottingham and Leicestershire areas, and the Brass Co-ordinator for Leicester Grammar School. As part of his role within the school, Chris conducts the Leicester Grammar Symphonic Wind Band who have performed many times at the Royal Festival Hall in London as art of the National Festival of Music for Youth, as well as tours with the choir throughout Europe.
He is currently in demand as an international soloist, instrumental teacher, conductor and adjudicator participating in many workshops in this country and abroad, and is a trombone clinician for Antoine Courtois (Paris).