Christopher Marshall QSM 
1939–2022

Christopher Marshall who founded, and for 25 years ran, Christopher’s Classics sadly passed away on 8 April 2022. 

Christopher’s contribution to the musical life of Christchurch and, indeed, New Zealand has been immense. Not only has he been instrumental in bringing chamber music concerts to Christchurch, he has supported many young New Zealand musicians. We are blessed in New Zealand with a large number of world class musicians; many of whom have been assisted by Christopher. He will be missed in so many ways.
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On behalf of the Christopher’s Classics community, we pass on our condolences to Jilly and Michael.

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Queen's Birthday Honour for Christopher

It is great news to read of Christopher's award of a Queen's Service Medal (QSM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List today. This award recognises Christopher's long commitment to classical music in Canterbury and his support of young musicians. We are sure that you will join us in congratulating Christopher on receiving such a well-deserved honour.

​Click here for the Stuff article on Christopher.

Christopher’s Classics - where it all began – and the man behind the series

A farmer, a skier in his younger years, and a lover of classical music, English born Christopher Marshall
​attended symphony orchestra concerts from the age of eight. It was only after moving to New Zealand in the 1980’s, however, that music became a larger part of his life.
​Back in 1987, concerts he and wife Jilly hosted at their North Canterbury home for the Ashley and Waimakariri community arts councils attracted enthusiastic audiences from the start. 

By 1996, realising that the artists they presented rarely performed in Christchurch, Christopher initiated a series of Sunday afternoon concerts in the beautiful Great Hall in the Christchurch Arts Centre. ‘Sunday Classics’ was born.  Later, a move from Sunday afternoons to mid-week evening concerts gave impetus to a new brand, ‘Christopher’s Classics’, offering five to six well patronised concerts a year.  The series continued despite having to move to new locations after the Christchurch earthquakes of September 2010 and February 2011. From 2011 until May 2016, most concerts took place in Christchurch’s lovely old St Michael and All Angels Church, and in August 2016, they transferred to the wonderful new purpose-built venue, The Piano.

“The Christopher’s Classics series aims to attract the most interesting and talented of performers in New Zealand and those having associations with this country,” Christopher says. “Our series offers artists a fine well-managed venue for performances, and an audience both responsive and engaged.”

To download a 2013 METROPOL magazine article about Christopher Marshall click HERE.