Christopher (Kiffer) Finzi was educated at Bedales School before going on to the Royal Academy of Music in 1952 where he studied ‘cello with Douglas Cameron.  His studies were interrupted by 4 months due to imprisonment as a conscientious objector.   

He is the son of English composer, Gerald Finzi. After his father’s death in 1956 he took over the conducting of the Newbury String Players, conducting a total 256 concerts with them.   Having had considerable experience of orchestral playing he "basically learnt the craft on the job" as a conductor, famed for interpretations of both his father's music and that of other English composers. Apart from his recording of his father's Dies Natalis with Wilfred Brown and The Newbury String Players, which many consider the definitive recording of the piece, he has conducted several orchestras and taught ‘cello for a number of years.

Kiffer is married to Hilary du Pre and they have 4 children and 8 grand children.  They still live in the Ashmansworth house that his parents built in 1939.