Chris Bilton

Chris was given his first keyboard at age 5 and then began private instruction in classical piano at age 7 through the Royal Conservatory of Music. Private lessons continued for the next 10 years as Chris expanded his knowledge and understanding of music. At an early age, Chris discovered a passion for writing music and it didn't take long for people to take notice. In 2000 at age 16, Chris performed in his first professional solo concert to a sold out crowd at the River Run Centre in Guelph, Ontario. The self-produced show titled "The Journey" consisted of 16 original compositions and received much critical acclaim. In 2002 at age 18, Chris was commissioned to compose the official theme song for the Ontario Winter Olympics. The song was played during the opening and closing ceremonies and was televised nationally across Canada. In January 2005, Chris began studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where he has studied with some of the biggest names in the music industry. In the summer of 2005, Chris interned with well-known Canadian film composer Jack Lenz (The Passion of the Christ, Men With Brooms, The Nutcracker Prince) where he met up with songwriters/producers Adam Crossley and Asher Lenz. The two have collaborated to produce distinctive new songs for such famed artists as Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli and Chris' experience with them has proven to be invaluable. In January of 2006, Chris was selected as one of twelve students to represent Berklee College of Music for a semester abroad in Athens, Greece. During his time in Athens, Chris produced a concert featuring 9 new original compositions performed by 17 musicians from both Greece and the United States. The show was a huge success and a DVD of the performance is currently being created. In August 2007, Chris graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Film Scoring and moved to Toronto to begin his professional career. Since then, Chris has been writing music cues for television shows across Canada and is frequently commissioned for music by numerous independent filmmakers from all over the World. He has also acted as Music Director for numerous shows in Toronto, including a sold-out performance featuring Canadian Idol star Martha Joy at the Toronto Centre for the Arts on November 11, 2007. Chris also performs with emerging singer/songwriter Adam Crossley and is currently preparing for a nation-wide tour in support of his debut solo album release "Anvil Of A Heart" in the Spring 2008, including 3 dates in May opening for Melanie C of the Spice Girls on the Ontario leg of her tour. Most recently, Chris has signed on with Lenz Entertainment in Toronto where he will work closely with one of Canada's most prolific composers, Jack Lenz and continue to write music for television shows, commercials and films across the World and write/produce songs for new and established artists.