A life of chamber music, orchestra, solo performance, and teaching.
Christopher Jepson came to the cello a bit later than most. In his early years, he was more focused on singing than on any instrument. He received his first cello at age 10 and started with the Suzuki method, but it wasn’t until he turned 15 and began learning from Alexander Boyarsky that his serious journey as a cellist began.
Within two years of learning, Christopher already earned a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London, but his passion and talent took him further, leading him to Berlin to study with Hans Jakob Eschenburg at the prestigious Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler.”
After honing his skills in Berlin for 6 years, performing with both the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, Christopher moved to Basel in 2010 after securing the position of 2nd Solo Cellist with the Sinfonieorchester Basel.
Today, he’s often invited as a guest principal cellist in various European orchestras and has held the position of Solo Cellist with the Gstaad Menuhin Festival Orchestra since 2011. At the Menuhin Festival, he’s also active as a chamber musician and soloist, enjoying the opportunity to bring music to audiences in different settings.
Chamber music is one of Christopher’s greatest passions, and he is deeply committed to this field.
After six enriching years with the Amar String Quartet, Christopher graces international festivals, performing alongside quartets such Artemis, Alban Berg, Jerusalem, and Stradivari, with more recent engagement as both a chamber musician and soloist at Festival Klassiek in Zeeland.
As an educator, Christopher is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of cellists. He regularly coaches conservatory-level students and conducts masterclasses at prestigious institutions in the UK, Italy, Germany, Chile, and China. His expertise is also sought after as a guest professor at various festivals, including coaching the Asian Youth Orchestra, and teaching at the British Isles Music Festival, where he remains on the board of directors.
In addition to his performance and teaching careers, Christopher is the visionary founder and director of Rhein Klassik. This initiative, born during the COVID-19 pandemic, was created to support freelance musicians and young, up-and-coming artists in Switzerland, particularly those facing financial hardship.
Rhein Klassik has since flourished into a leading ethical and sustainable classical music concert series, fostering a vibrant musical community and providing valuable performance opportunities in Basel and its surrounding areas.
Christopher plays on a cello made by Vincenzo Postiglione, Napoli, ca. 1884.
Jepson Photography
private passion
Photography
I am a hobby photographer with a long-standing passion for the art.
While landscapes are my preferred subject, I am gradually exploring cityscapes, street photography, and portraits.
