About

I am a specialist trumpet teacher, brass coach and music director with over twenty five years experience both as a classroom and instrumental teacher. A diverse working life now involves teaching individual brass lessons, playing the trumpet professionally (including Natural Trumpet), directing and conducting choirs, wind, jazz and brass ensembles including the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra and West Wiltshire Concert Band, delivering jazz and brass workshops, higher education teaching/lecturing and most importantly making a lot of music.

Finding new or rarely performed works for large groups of people is a particular interest. With Cantamus Chamber Choir I have conducted several UK premieres including Moniuszko’s Mass in Db and Nils Lindberg’s Christmas Cantata with GBH Big Band.

In 2018 I conducted 105 people in the first performance, since its premiere in 2007 of Steve Gray’s masterful arrangement of Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration with a array of fabulous musicians including Birmingham based Black Voices and the award winning Town Hall Gospel Choir, newly formed Soul Celebration Community Choir and a stunning big band and string orchestra. It went down a storm and this is presently due to be staged at Symphony Hall Birmingham after restrictions end.

During the pandemic lockdown period I have been very active online continuing provision for Wiltshire Jazz Academy, West Wilts Concert Band, WYJO and the adult groups Jazz Factory and Cantamus Chamber Choir. Though providing considerable challenges I have been able to use previously learned IT skills to produce resources to enable a wide range of participant to engagement with music learning online, even preparing for live performances between lockdowns.

I have also fixed and provided virtual recordings for Mozart Requiem, Rutter Gloria and a Brass Quintet for a Christmas concert all in lockdown. I look forward to making music with others again as soon as possible in 2021/22.

---

What I / we help young people achieve

Their potential to become the best musician they can be. Happy pupils with good technique able to take part in music for the rest of their lives.

---

Opportunities for children & young people

• To learn to play an instrument and / or develop skills on an instrument

---

Also Works With

Apart from being a trumpet teacher in secondary and higher education and a conductor/music director, I lead and am involved with several groups for young people including the following.

Wiltshire Jazz Academy – An exciting monthly jazz workshop for young musicians in partnership with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. Second Saturday of the month at the Wiltshire Music Centre. (Online June 2020 – April 2021) This can lead to involvement with….

Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra – Musical Director http://www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk/youthorchestra

West of England Youth Orchestra – Brass Tutor – weblink as WYJO

West Wiltshire Concert Band – Musical Director http://www.wiltshireyoungmusicians.org.uk

Jazz Factory – Tutor a weekly jazz workshop at the WMC on Monday evenings during term time   http://www.jazzfactory.org.uk

---

Times

• Term Time
• After School
• Weekends

---