At Senior Prize Giving in September OA Chris Price (Phillips ’91) returned as guest of honour. Chris has an amazing CV and impressed our students, staff and guests on so many levels. Head of Music for BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, Chris is another example of an OA who has made huge impact in a powerful and influential industry.

As Head of Music for BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, Chris is the creative and editorial lead for the world's most influential playlists, playing a key role in ensuring the BBC delivers the right music content on the right platforms for young audiences. He began his career in the music industry, working in marketing and distribution roles for Sony and Warner Music before transitioning into radio.

As Music Producer for BBC Radio 1 from 2000 to 2006, he programmed music and booked events such as Radio 1's Big Weekend. At Radio 1 he developed the careers of UK talent such as Keane, Snow Patrol and The Streets, as well as international artists like The Killers, Rihanna and Scissor Sisters.

In 2006 Chris joined MTV as Director of Music, devising strategy for the network's nine UK channels. At MTV he and his team gave artists such as Adele, Biffy Clyro, Calvin Harris, Florence + The Machine and Mumford & Sons their first TV exposure.

Later, as Head of Music for streaming service Last.fm, Chris was credited with introducing editorial to the platform, launching video content hub 'Last.fm Originals' and offering bands including Bastille and Kodaline their first ever sessions.

Prior to re-joining the BBC in 2016, Chris threw his energies into his music strategy consultancy New Slang Media, working with radio and streaming clients such as BT, Vevo, MixRadio, Ministry of Sound Radio and many others. 

Through his writing and speaking Chris has forged a reputation as an industry-leading expert on the intersection of streaming and radio playlists. A lifelong music-maker himself, Chris is a trustee of the National Foundation for Youth Music, investing in music-making projects for children and young people in challenging circumstances. He is also a Trustee of CALM (The Campaign Against Living Miserably), a male suicide prevention charity.

Chris spoke honestly and openly about his memories of his time at School and how the experience, friendships and the teaching influenced his future education and career. Turning a passion into a profession, friendship, humanitarianism, philanthropy, men's mental health and being a man in 2018 were amongst his key messages.

Chris tweeted "Such an honour to help celebrate the school’s highest achievers. Congratulations to all the prize winners, and thank you AGS for the opportunity. Bit of a lump in the throat receiving my Old Aylesburian tie ..."

Wonderful to see some former staff back at the event too, and Jackie Brooker, former head of German here at AGS tweeted "Always a joy to be back at the truly exceptional school which is AGS. And what a delight to meet again Chris Price who was in my first formidably clever Yr 13 German class at AGS 28 yrs ago. He has done us proud, as do so many of our students!"