Early Projects
Prior to attending university, I was fortunate to have a strong grassroot music scene and a well-established music hub that offered some fantastic music opportunities. Here is a selection of my earliest projects and ensembles.
Love Music Trust Big Band
I played trumpet in the Love Music Trust Big Band from September 2013 – July 2019, becoming their lead trumpet player in my final year. The band was led by John Eno (2013-17) and Kyran Matthews (2017-19), with guest appearances from saxophonist Andy Scott and Ian Darrington.
We performed with many established guests including Allen Vizzutti, George Shelby, Mike Lovatt, Amy Roberts, Anthony Kerr, University of Massachusetts Big Band, National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and Keele/Love Music Trust Composition Fellowship.
In 2017, the ensemble participated in a recording for the Love Music Trust CD.
In 2022, I invited the Love Music Trust Big Band to visit King’s College London. Read more about that event by clicking here.
For 10 years, I was a member of Lions Youth Brass. In 2013-14, I was Principal Cornet of their Junior Band under the baton of Tom Hancock. From 2017, I was the Soprano cornet player of the Youth Award.
In 2014, I joined the youth band. I competed at Birmingham Symphony Hall in the ‘Music for Youth’ championships.
In 2015, the band was awarded 2nd place in the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, performing ‘The Saga of Tyrfing’ by Jacob Vilhelm Larsen.
In 2017, I was invited to take on the role of soprano cornet. I performed the soprano cornet solo in Gordon Langford’s Metropolis in the 2018 National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. Our second place that year resulted in an invite to represent England in the premier section of the European Youth Brass Band Championships in April 2019 in Switzerland. Our entry featured a world-premiere of ‘Blue Phantom’ by highly-regarded composer, Andy Scott.
I participated in two CD recordings, one in 2015 and one in 2018. I also feature in a third CD recording released in 2020 as a live performance recording from the European Championships is included.
Each year, we went on an annual tour performing to the local Lions tour. We visited Ireland, Eastbourne, Hastings, Dorset, Hull and North Wales.
Test Pieces performed:
Jacob Vilhelm Larsen - The Saga of Tyrfing
Jonathan Bates – The Mansions of Glory
Simon Dobson – Penlee
Gordon Langford – Metropolis
Christopher Bond – Corineus
Daniel Hall – Sanctuary!
Photo/Video Credit: The Love Music Trust
For five years, I was a member of the Sandbach School Big Band, led by John Barber (Principal Trombone of Foden’s Brass Band). Every year, the band performed two nights with established big band singer, Matthew Ford, using the same arrangements that Matt brings to professional big bands.
In the summer, the band hosts a ‘Viva Las Vegas’ night of popular and classic hits. The band perform the first half, followed by a second half usually performed by the A-Band (a function band featuring Matthew Ford). In 2022, I was invited back to participate in the Sandbach School Reunion Big Band.
Once a year, the band would support Foden’s Brass Band (current national champions of Great Britain) at a celebration concert held in Sandbach Park. In 2019, I performed the solo ‘Hey Jude’ as the finale of our set (pictured).
The Big Band has also performed abroad. I was fortunate enough to attend tours to Disneyland Paris, Belgium, Germany and Italy.
The band has also undertaken other projects. In 2017, the band undertook a workshop and concert with leading Latin American band, Apitos, led by Dave Hassell. This concert, among many things, encouraged me to write my dissertation on Cuba in 2022.
The big band also frequently performed pop songs. In 2018, they worked with established Queen tribute band, QEII, to perform a concert of 24 Queen songs accompanied by full big band. Other favourite charts included performing ‘Mr Brightside’ and ‘Somebody Told Me’ in our set at Disneyland Paris in December 2018.
In 2018, I joined Audley Brass Band under the baton of Tom Hancock on soprano cornet.
I competed in the Midland’s 3rd Section Area Championship, performing the test piece ‘Napoleon in the Alps’ by Phillip Harper. The band were awarded 2nd place, and qualified for the 3rd Section National Finals in September 2018. We performed the test piece ‘Episodes for Brass’ by Gareth Churcher.
Photo Credit: Audley Brass Band
Sandbach School Music
I participated in many activities organised by Sandbach School’s music department. From 2017-2019, I was a member of ‘Brass Phats’, a horn-led function band. The band performed arrangements by staff and students.
From 2015-2019, I was Principal Trumpet of the band’s Wind Orchestra, led by Ian Raisbeck. The band competed at the Cheshire East Schools Music Competition, and were awarded first place in March 2019. The band frequently perform work by the MD, Ian Raisbeck, including an arrangement of Gabriel’s Oboe at Birmingham Symphony Hall in 2018 (part of the ‘Music for Youth’ Festival). Each year, the band performs as part of the Clonter Opera celebrations organised by the Love Music Trust. See a video attached of the band’s performance of ‘Amazing Grace’, inspired by the arrangement by Canadian Brass.
The bands toured abroad in 2016, 2017 and 2019. The band visited Lake Garda, Italy in 2016, the Rhine Valley, Germany in 2017 and Bruges, Belgium in 2019.
As part of my tuition, I received instrumental tuition from Natsumi McDonald (previous principal baritone horn of Foden’s Brass Band).
Brass Revolution
In July 2018, the Love Music Trust collaborated with Music for Youth and esteemed composer, Andy Scott, to write a large-scale brass piece. The piece featured widening participation students up to year 13 pupils and students attending the Royal Northern College of Music. There were approximately 200 students performing in total.
The piece was inspired by young people coming together, calling for change. It was in part inspired by the climate protests of 2018/19.
I worked with the Love Music Trust on a number of projects. I was Principal Trumpet of the Love Music Trust Orchestral Residential, hosted in Conwy in April and September 2017. In April 2017, the orchestra was joined by world-renowned trumpet player, Sir John Wallace to perform the Hummel Trumpet Concerto.
In Spring 2017 and 2018, I participated in the LMT/Royal Northern College of Music G&T scheme. I successfully auditioned to have 1-1 lessons with David Thornton (2017) and John Miller (2018).
In 2018-2019, I was a member of the Love Music Trust steering group as the student representative.
Photo Credit: John Barber (@Johntrom75)
