Chris Turner
Member
Biography
Chris Turner has been fortunate enough to be able to combine his two passions -music and tennis- into one career. His ear for music, and his eye for the ball were spotted at an early age, and thankfully nurtured by loving parents and dedicated teachers. He is a music graduate, majoring in composition, arranging and performance (piano and saxophones) at University College, Salford, Manchester, and subsequently a professional musician and entertainer. He is also a professional tennis coach and former Welsh International and Junior Champion.
His parents, Roy & June, were the proprietors of a seaside theatre in their hometown of Rhyl in North Wales during the1960s & 70s…The Gaiety Theatre was to provide Chris with an introduction and education in show-business that could be considered the envy of any stage-school. As a child and teenager he took part in summer season variety & review shows, pantomime & music hall, etc. Over the years he played a variety of roles from a ‘Dwarf’ in Snow White, aged 8, (starring Charles Hawtrey); to singing and performing in the various shows; playing drums, organ or saxophones in the pit; or helping front of house or backstage. It is hardly surprising; therefore, that he pursued a career in entertainment. Chris has been performing professionally for over 20 years in the UK and abroad. He has travelled the world as resident piano-vocal entertainer onboard the illustrious cruise-liner ‘Queen Elizabeth 2’, on which he has been entertaining, along with other cruise-ships, since 1995. Highlights include the prestigious 4-month world cruise onboard ‘QE2’, 1999. He is now proud to be a Resident Guest Entertainer with Princess Cruises. A full Equity member, his acting and television appearances include parts in the TV soaps ‘El Dorado’; ‘Coronation St.’ and ‘Brookside’. In 2003, Chris was featured in a ‘VISA CARD’ commercial shown throughout South and Latin America, and in 2004, a part in the controversial film ‘Wish You Were Here’!
Chris is a fully licensed L.T.A. Tennis coach and a professionally qualified member of the British Tennis Coaches Association. A former Welsh international player and junior champion, he spent most of his school holidays competing in, and often winning, many tennis tournaments throughout the UK and abroad. At the age of 17, after much deliberation, he turned down an offer to become a full-time professional player in order to pursue his musical ambitions. He never lost his strong ties with the tennis world. Chris enjoys the Spring and Summer months each year passing on his knowledge and experience in his hometown of Rhyl, and the surrounding North Wales area, where he dedicates his time to coaching in schools, clubs and in the general community. He also takes time to attend many coach refresher and development courses, which are both educational and fun, meeting old friends and making new contacts, and keeping up with the modern game.
Also a member of both the Spanish and European Registry of Tennis Professionals (R.P.T.), Chris spends about 6 months a year in Spain organising and running mini tennis courses and leagues in many of the International schools & clubs on the Costa del Sol. *www.playtennisspain.com
Since his early teens Chris has been writing songs and composing music. His composition ‘Do It ...The Mancunian Way’ was chosen by the ‘Manchester 2002’ Committee as the official song of welcome at the Commonwealth Games (2002). The song was performed by a total of 27 North West primary schools, each school performing for at least 3 of the 72 competing teams during their individual welcome ceremonies, which were broadcast on TV & radio all over the Commonwealth. It was also performed by a specially selected compilation school choir at the official Opening Ceremony in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip, together with members of The Royal Family, and an audience of 180,000. **www.mancunianway.com
Chris was accepted on to the Vivian Ellis Musical Writing course at Goldsmiths College, London, 1999. He always wanted to write a musical. Therefore, considering his experiences as both a competitor and coach on and off the tennis circuit, he decided to write a musical about tennis…‘Tie Break’ ***www.tennismusical.com
ADDENDUM
Tiebreak was short-listed from nearly 200 musicals for the coveted Vivian Ellis Awards for New Musicals 2000; Tiebreak reached the long list stage of the Global Search for New Musicals during the International Festival of Musical Theatre in Cardiff 2002, in which there were over 200 entries worldwide; Several of Chris’s Songs, (Including four Songs from Tiebreak), achieved acclaim at several international song competitions in 2007/6/5/4/3:-
‘Sign on the Dotted line’ reached FIRST PLACE position in the COOCH MUSIC International Song Contest 2003, and THIRD PLACE in the Mountain Valley’s Arts Festival Song Writing Competition 2004; Last Request’ & ‘Breakin’ all the Rules’ reached the finalists stage of the UNISONG International Song Contest 2003; ‘Forgive & Forget’ received an Honourable Mention from the Billboard World Song Contest 2004, as did two of his other compositions :-‘Little Ray of Sunshine’ & ‘DO IT The Mancunian Way’. Chris’s live acoustic version of ‘Forgive & Forget’ reached the finals stage (last 10) of the Best Male section in the ‘International Acoustic Music Awards 2007’. Chris’s instrumental composition ‘Vapour Trail’ reached the finalists stage of the UK Song Writing Contest 2003, & Mountain Valley’s Arts Festival Song Writing Competition 2004. ‘Do It ...The Man Union Way’ reached the finalist stage of the UK Song Writing Contest 2004; ‘Little Ray of Sunshine’ received an Honours Award from The Great American Song Contest 2005, and Mountain Valley’s Arts Festival Song Writing Competition 2004, and an Honourable Mention at UNISONG 2005/2006, as did ‘Piano Bar Angel’.
In September 2003, Chris was accepted as a Professional Writer Associate Member of Mercury Musical Developments. Other memberships include British Academy of Songwriters & Composers, Equity and of course The Musicians Union!
| Important Works |
|
Performances |
 |
|
|
| None added |
|
None added |
Members' Directory 