Meet the Show Choir conductor whose love of music was sparked as a child

One of Chris Weber’s earliest musical memories is being held as a child in his mother’s arms as she sings and his dad leads the choir. It’s a special family legacy that has sparked a life-long passion for music.

Chris has spent the past 21 years involved in community choirs and is now an essential part of The People’s Orchestra(TPO) and Show Choir(TPSC) family.

He’s a familiar face, who not only conducts several TPSCs including for Sutton Coldfield, Halesowen and Choir Brigade, but is also TPO’s Community Engagement Manager.

He took centre stage to explain the extent of TPO’s work at the Symphony Hall mass concert in Birmingham, yet added to that, his efforts extend to thinking up and running the ‘Walking Choir’. It’s a groundbreaking TPO pilot scheme to get Black Country residents more active that gained national funding.

“I’m from a family of singers,” chuckles Chris. “My dad Ryszard Weber conducted choirs in Doncaster and Sheffield and my mum Krystyna Weber sang Alto.

Chris Weber’s dad Ryszard Weber conducting front middle circa 1985. To the left of him is Chris’ sister and to the right is Chris’ brother and next to him (furthest right) Chris aged around 8.

“When me, my sister and brother were children, we’d all be involved. There’s a great photo of us all at a rehearsal. My brother is little and my mum is holding me as a baby in her arms and singing.

“We’ve always been musical. It’s a life-long love.”

Chris learned to play the trumpet and piano as well as sing before moving on to achieve a degree in Music. It was years later that he ended up following in his father’s footsteps as a choir conductor.

“What got me into choirs was when I was asked if I could take over one that had 15 people in it at the time,” recalls Chris. “In three years, it grew to 120 people and was massive and fantastic.”

When Covid struck, it changed the fortunes of that ageing choir, but new doors opened up for Chris when he got involved with TPSC and TPO, in which he plays the trumpet.

Now aged 47, Chris is a popular figure with singers and musicians alike and at the heart of organising the TPO tours, so far to Krakow and the Scottish Highlands.

“It’s so nice to branch out into Show Choirs,” added Chris. “

They have a really big mix of ages.

“When it comes to the tours, I think it’s really good to give people the opportunity to do something different in August when there are no choir rehearsals. It keeps people connected, singing has a way of doing that.”