Squadron Leader Chris I’Anson joined the Royal Air Force in January 2003 and was commissioned as a Director of Music in December 2013. As a percussionist with the Central Band of the RAF, he performed in venues all over the world including Poland, Moscow, Canada and Gibraltar. He regularly featured as a xylophone and marimba soloist, including on four UK ‘RAF in Concert’ tours.

In March 2014, he became the Director of Music for the Band of the RAF Regiment and in July 2017, he served as Director of Music for the Central Band of the RAF where he had the privilege of leading the band for the RAF100 celebrations including trips to Washington, Paris and Amiens.

In August 2019, he was posted back to Lincolnshire as the Director of Music for the Band of the RAF College, the centenary year of the RAF College and of the Band itself. In 2020 he deployed as Operations Officer to Merthyr Tydfil COVID-19 Testing Unit and in 2021 he deployed to Wales again as Operations Officer of the Vaccination Support Force. He was promoted to Squadron Leader in 2021, and in 2022 was posted to RAF Northolt where he began his current role of Director of Music Headquarters Music Services.

Outside of work his interests include running, reading, hillwalking, tennis and supporting his wife and children in their various sporting and musical activities.