Chris Small was born in Leicestershire and began playing at the age of 8 with the Enderby Junior Band. Through school, studying at Birmingham Conservatoire and since, Chris has had the opportunity to play Euphonium, Baritone and Trombone with Leicester Schools Symphony Wind Band, Leicester Schools Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Band, Enderby Senior Band, the Welsh National Opera, and other groups, including being part of the winning team for Carlton Main Frickley Band when they won the Grand Shield title in 2016.
During his time at the Birmingham Conservatoire Chris was offered the opportunity to try conducting and soon became right hand man to Head of Brass Band Studies Ian Porthouse, assisting in the conducting of the Conservatoire Brass Band from 2013 – 2014. Upon leaving the college Chris took the time to have conducting lessons with successful brass band Musical Directors including Richard Evans and Michael Fowles along with becoming MD for Malvern Hills Brass Band, Burbage Silver Band and Enderby Senior Band on an interim basis.
In recent years Chris has been nominated for the Harry Mortimer Memorial Trust award, competed as a finalist in the National Association of Brass Band Conducting Competition, was awarded Best Instrumentalist at the Leicestershire Brass Band Association Contest and been awarded Best Soloist and Best Instrumentalist at the Woodfarm Entertainment Contest.
Chris spends his working life as a secondary school music teacher in Warwickshire and now lives in Hinckley. In his spare time, Chris enjoys spending his Saturday afternoons playing rugby for Vipers Rugby Club.
Chris became the Musical Director of Wigston Band in November 2016 and is extremely excited about following in the footsteps of one of his inspirations and good friend, Garry Sleath as well as being part of this ambitious band and organisation.