Charles lives in Valdivia, Chile, where he works as Solo Cellist (principal cello) with the Orquesta de Cámara de Valdivia.
Biography
New Zealand cellist Charles Brooks has had an international career spanning the globe with principal positions in some of the most exciting new frontiers of orchestral music. After studying both cello and opera in New Zealand, Australia and London, he was invited to be principal cellist of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra in China, one of the finest orchestras in the country set in a thriving metropolis of 16 million people. Charles toured with the Shenzhen Symphony to the farthest reaches of China, including places rarely visited by foreigners. He also played abroad with concerts in Italy, France, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong, accompanying Chinaʼs finest artists such as Lang Lang, Yundi Li, and Li Wei Qim.
In 2009 Charles joined the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra, the first privately funded orchestra in China, owned by a billionaire businessman. Whilst there he was credited with building one of the best cello sections in the China and was awarded many prizes and promotions for his role as principal. GYSO concerts were regularly broadcast on Chinaʼs national TV station, CCTV, to audiences of millions.
As a chamber musician Charles has performed with some of the greatest instrumentalists working today including Carrie Dennis, Principal Violist of the Berlin and LA Philharmonics and Martin Chalifour, concertmaster of the LA philharmonic.
In 2011 Charles was offered the principal cello position in Portugalʼs Orquestra do Norte which he declined in favor of joining his current ensemble, the Orquesta de Cámara de Valdivia, in southern Chile. He looks forward to the challenges of being an integral part of a small, elite ensemble and bringing excellence in classical music to new audiences throughout South America.
