Dr Christopher Allan retired as senior lecturer in Voice at the University of Newcastle, NSW in 2017 where he worked with singers and lectured in academic music courses for 22 years. He is well known as a baritone soloist with many choral institutions such as Sydney Philharmonia Choir, Newcastle University Choir, Willoughby Choir, and Coro Innominata. Chris appeared as a guest artist with The Song Company for many years in concert and radio broadcasts and appeared with Opera Australia as an understudy and chorus member. He also toured extensively for Musica Viva with the Song Company and the early music ensemble Sounds Baroque.

Chris continues to perform, and in recent years presented recitals for the Newcastle Music Festival and sang with Pinchgut Opera in their acclaimed productions of Platée in 2021 and Medée in 2022. In 2021 he returned to the stage in a different genre as the Soviet KGB agent Molokov in the Very Popular Theatre Company’s production of Chess.

Chris held the post of Artistic and Musical Director of the Newcastle University Choir from 1999-2004 and was reappointed to the position of Musical Director in 2011. With the University Choir, he has directed performances of major works of choral literature including Handels’ Messiah, the JS Bach Magnificat, John Rutter’s Magnificat, Vittoria’s Requiem, and Mozart’s Requiem.

In late 2013 the Choir’s first commercial CD (Encore) was released. In 2016 the Choir, under Chris’ direction, performed Bach’s St Matthew Passion to an enthusiastic audience. The 40th Anniversary of the Choir (2017) saw a performance of Haydn’s Creation. Chris is also an accomplished pianist and accompanist and has appeared on many occasions with performers such as Sally Walker (Flute) and in recitals with his daughter, soprano Miriam Allan.