Born in Ireland, cellist Christopher Ellis holds degrees from Conservatoire Nationale Supérieure de Musique et Danse Paris and Rice University and currently resides in Houston, Texas. Christopher enjoys an active performing schedule, playing with groups such as Loop38, Musiqa, Kinetic Ensemble and the Houston Symphony Orchestra. As a DaCamera Young Artist, he performed regularly throughout Houston, while engaging with the Houston community in musical visits to public schools. Christopher has performed internationally at SuperCello Festival Beijing, Piatigorsky Cello Festival Los Angeles, Cello Biennale Amsterdam and across France, Germany and the Netherlands. In Ireland, recent highlights include performing and teaching at the National Concert Hall’s International Master Course Festival and making his debut as soloist with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Recent prizes include the 2023 Doug Davis performance award and the Prix Ravel from Fontainebleau Academie, France. A recent highlight was playing at the UN Summit in Geneva, Switzerland in a performance which fused the worlds of music, dance and neuroscience. Christopher plays on a C.A. Testore cello made in 1764, generously loaned to him by his former teacher and mentor Aisling Drury Byrne. Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Spirt. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council. Away from music, Chris’ favorite things are Guinness and Rugby, which happen to go together rather nicely. He’s on a mission to find the best pint of Guinness in North America, wish him luck!