A performance to celebrate the 75th birthday of the celebrated trumpeter Crispian Steele-Perkins took place at St. James’s Piccadilly in London on Saturday 22nd February 2020. As well as featuring a number of trumpet solos from Crispian the performance also showcased the English Chamber Choir and the orchestra (the English Players), under the direction of Guy Protheroe.St James’s Church is a fantastic

It is always great to perform at one of the most famous churches in London, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, on the northeast corner of Trafalgar Square.On this occasion, Thursday 13th February 2020, I played Vivaldi’s Gloria [RV 589] on the piccolo trumpet with the Brandenburg Sinfonia under the direction of Andrew Earis (Director of Music at St. Martin-in-the-Fields).In preparation for this performance,

Performing Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique with the Aurora Orchestra was one of the most enjoyable projects I participated in last year. It was great to return to play with the orchestra in February 2020 for music by Beethoven and Mozart. The orchestra rehearsed Beethoven’s Symphony No.1 in C [Op.21] on Wednesday 5th February 2020 at Morley College in London. We regrouped at London’s Heathrow

The Thomas Tallis Society Choir & Orchestra performed a programme of music by Capperauld, Finzi, Purcell, Vivaldi and Williams at St. Alfege Church in Greenwich on Saturday 18th December 2020.The programme began with Purcell's Come Ye Sons of Art (of 1694). I began playing the natural trumpet part, and I was asked to play the second alto part (one octave higher) in the movement 'Sound

Bob Porter conducted Handel's Messiah in a candlelit St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Monday 30th December 2019 at 18:30. The concert was part of the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London and it featured the Brandenburg Sinfonia and Brandenburg Festival Chorus. I played second trumpet, Paul Archibald played first trumpet and Tristan Fry played timpani.Ours was the first of two concerts this evening. The

I performed Handel's Messiah on Sunday 24th November 2019 at St. Barnabas Church in Walthamstow, as part of the St. Barnabas Sunday Concerts series. The Waltham Forest Community Choir performed with an excellent freelance orchestra, made up of several Walthamstow-based professional musicians. Tom Randle conducted the performance. The capacity audience at St. Barnabas Church was encouraged to sing

I performed three works with obligato trumpet parts in a candlelit concert at St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Friday 8th November 2019. I had been asked to perform on the piccolo trumpet, so I played Handel's Let the Bright Seraphim from Samson [HWV 57] and Henry Purcell's Overture from the Indian Queen [Z. 630] on a piccolo trumpet in A by Scherzer, and Bach's 'Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen' [BWV 51]

Alison Balsom: “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen - welcome to England at the end of the seventeenth century. Don’t panic. I’m not here to talk. I have this (she holds the trumpet). And, you know, some people hear in this only one thing - a call to arms, a military fanfare, the triumphant crow of a proud and patriotic soldier. But in the 1680s and 90s, Henry Purcell, a composer who means the whole

After I played in the BBC Proms for the first time in September 2016 I wrote about the inspiring influence of being allowed to stay up late as a child to watch the Last Night of the Proms - broadcast live from the Royal Albert Hall. Later in life, as a postgraduate student at the Royal College of Music, the area around the Royal Albert Hall became very familiar. On occasion, I would have morning rehearsals

Sunday 7th July 2019 saw two differing performances (both by I Fagiolini) of Monteverdi's Orfeo in the Jerwood Hall at LSO St. Luke's in London. Music & Theatre for All and I Fagiolini had teamed together to present a 'relaxed performance' at 3pm, which welcomed an audience of all ages. Special provision had been made for those with special educational needs, particularly autism and the performance

I performed a programme of baroque music (on modern instruments) with the Brandenburg Sinfonia at St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Saturday 1st June 2019. I played third trumpet in the section with (fellow Manx man) Sam Kinrade and Ellie Lovegrove on 1st and 2nd, respectively. The programme began with Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum [HWV 283] and continued after the interval with Bach’s Orchestral Suite

The choir and players of the Collegium Musicum of London performed Bach’s B Minor Mass under the direction of Greg Morris on Saturday 27th of April 2019 at St James’ Piccadilly. I played first natural trumpet in the baroque orchestra led by violinist Persephone Gibbs, with Richard Thomas playing second trumpet, Tamsin Cowell on third trumpet and Robert Kendell on timpani. The soloists were: Philippa

Here lies the man who boldly hath run throughMore villainies than England ever knew;And ne'er to any friend he had was true.Here let him then by all unpitied lie,And let's rejoice his time was come to die. - Colonel Thomas Blood’s EpitaphI performed on the cornetto at the Tower of London for a day of events centred around the year 1671 and Colonel Thomas Blood’s (1618 - 1680) notorious attempt

I performed Bach’s B Minor Mass [BWV 232] with the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists and the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir on Wednesday 17th April 2019. The performance was directed by Ralph Allwood MBE (who I had remembered from a previous Brandenburg Baroque Soloists performance at Wellington College in August 2017).The Old Royal Naval College Chapel is a magnificent building -

I performed with the orchestra Musicians of London and the Goldsmiths Choral Union, under their conductor Brian Wright on Monday 15th April 2019. The ensemble performed Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis [Op. 123] in the Queen Elizabeth Hall at London’s Southbank Centre.I played first natural trumpet in the section with Nick Wright on second trumpet. Nick had taken on the daunting task of fixing this sizeable

This week continued with more Mozart, this time at St. John’s Smith Square on Wednesday 3rd April 2019. Will Russell (2nd trumpet) and I (1st trumpet) played natural trumpets with Musica Poetica and the English Baroque Choir under the direction of former King’s Singer, Jeremy Jackman.The programme consisted of Biber’s Requiem in F Minor [IHB 17] and Mozart’s Mass in C Minor [K. 427], both performed

On Saturday 30th March 2019 I traveled to St. Peter’s Church on Leigham Court Road in Streatham to perform Mozart’s Krönungsmesse (Coronation Mass) [K.317] and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore [K.339] with the Brandenburg Sinfonia and Streatham Choral. The well-attended concert, entitled Mozart Masterpieces, featured Ave Verum Corpus [K. 618], Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, Exultate Jubilate

Music by three successive Leipzig Thomaskantors (incidentally, all with the first name Johann) was the focus of Solomon’s Knot’s performances in Advent 2018. Rehearsals for the programme entitled ‘Christmas in Leipzig’ began on 26th November 2018 at Holy Trinity Church on Prince Consort Road in London. The first public performance took place at St. Mary’s Church in the Lace Market, Nottingham

I performed with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAEducation) at the Amadeus Centre near Warwick Avenue in London on Wednesday 28th of November 2018. The project featured participants from Gospel Oak, Rhyl and Swiss Cottage primary schools in Camden and it catered for (and I must say, enthralled) these young musicians including those with Special Educational Needs (SEN).This was a revisited

Over the summer I had the pleasure of deputising with the Aurora Orchestra, playing first trumpet in a Mozart Symphony prior to their performances at Kings Place in London and at La Seine Musicale in Paris. I had been unable to play in the whole project on that occasion as it was around the time of my wedding so I agreed to deputise for just one rehearsal, which was most enjoyable. A few months later

I performed for a Confirmation Service at the German Church (Christuskirche) in Knightsbridge (London) at 11am on Sunday 24th of June 2018. The bilingual service was led by Pastor Georg Amann and it featured: Jeremiah Clarke’s Prince of Denmark’s March, an arrangement of Henry Purcell’s Fairest Isle from King Arthur and John Stanley’s Trumpet Voluntary. The music was played by Russell Gilmour

I performed music by Georg Frideric Handel in the Summer Concert given by the Bar Choral Society at Temple Church in London on Tuesday 19th of June 2018.Greg Morris directed the all-Handel programme featuring the Temple Players and the Bar Choral Society with soloists: Amy Wood (soprano), James Hall (countertenor), James Way (tenor) and Richard Latham (bass). The performance began with Russell

I performed in an educational concert with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment on Wednesday 6th June 2018 at Conway Hall in London. The project was based around Purcell’s Fairy Queen and it featured music composed by James Redwood. The additional music had been specially composed to allow for musical interaction with the Key Stage 2 students. The students sang and played instruments with the

I performed on the cornetto and natural trumpet for a murder mystery corporate function at the Tower of London on Thursday 11th January 2018.Performing firstly in the White Tower and later in the New Armouries, Sam Goble, Russell Gilmour, Nick Perry and Jamie Akers performed Tudor Music, wearing appropriate costume (provided), upon cornetti, natural trumpets, pipes, recorder, curtal, guitar, hurdy

It was great to play with Voces8 again after the successful Messiah performance last year.On Wednesday 20th December 2017 the group performed Bach’s Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme [BWV 140], three carols, and Bach’s Magnificat in D [BWV 243], at Voces8’s home - the (surprisingly reverberant) Gresham Centre. The performance was ably conducted by Voces8's Artistic Director, Barnaby Smith.Final

Following memorable performances in December 2016 (Shoreditch Town Hall) and in July 2017 (Ulverston), Solomon’s Knot gave two subsequent performances of J. S. Bach’s B Minor Mass in December 2017; the first in Nottingham and the second at St. John’s Smith Square, London. The following video was filmed at Shoreditch Town Hall (December 2016) and published in advance of the ​Nottingham &

I began playing on Friday 15th of December 2017 at 10am at Holy Trinity Church (Prince Consort Road) with an intensive B Minor Mass rehearsal with Solomon’s Knot ahead of their performances in Nottingham (16th Dec) and at St. John’s Smith Square (18th Dec). After this rehearsal, I walked to Cadogan Hall and took part in an afternoon rehearsal and evening performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio

London’s Cadogan Hall was the venue for a concert given by the choir of Goldsmiths Choral Union and the period instrument orchestra Musicians of London. The concert took place on Tuesday 31st of October 2017 and it featured Haydn’s Te Deum, Mozart’s Vespers [K.339] and Beethoven’s Mass in C. The large forces of Goldsmiths Choral Union did an excellent job with these pieces, ably led by their

I led a Wind, Brass and Percussion sectional rehearsal at the Junior Guildhall on Saturday 14th of October 2017. The sectional rehearsal focused on Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor (Op.64) and De Falla’s Three Cornered Hat (Ballet). I began the sectional with tutti forces, and asked the students about Mendelssohn and the history of the Violin Concerto in E Minor. I asked the trombones

I performed Tudor music on the Cornetto as part of a high-profile corporate function in the Great Hall, at Hampton Court Palace on the evening of Wednesday 11th October 2017. The Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace features a highly decorated hammer-beam ceiling with King Henry VIII’s fine tapestries of 'The Story of Abraham' hung all around the room. The group of musicians wore Tudor regalia bearing

After the B Minor Mass performance in Suffolk, I returned home on Sunday 1st of October 2017 via David Staff’s workshop with a beautifully-restored natural trumpet, finished with a new cord of an alternating dark blue and red pattern on the binding [- the previous all-red binding had been added by Graham Nicholson on my first visit to The Hague in January 2011]. Upon arriving at home I had just enough

I performed Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists at St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Thursday 28th of September 2017. The first half of the concert featured Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, led by violinist Persephone Gibbs. In the second half of the concert Jeremy Jackman conducted the English Baroque Choir and Brandenburg Baroque Soloists in Vivaldi’s Gloria. The soloists were Natasha Day

I performed with The Wren Players at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea on Tuesday 4th of July 2017. The evening of music began at 18:30 with an outdoor performance in the Royal Hospital’s ‘Figure Court’. It was a beautiful and warm evening. The outdoor performance included a selection from Handel’s Water Music (D Major suite) and his Music for the Royal Fireworks:Water Music - D major suiteAllegroAlla

I performed (on modern trumpet) with the Meridian Sinfonia, who accompanied the North London Chorus, conducted by Murray Hipkin. The ensemble performed music by Mozart and Matthew King (the latter was present at the performance) at St. James’s Church, Muswell Hill on Saturday 17th of June 2017 (incidentally, my 29th birthday). The soloists were: Lucy Knight (soprano), Martha Jones (mezzo-soprano),

I played first trumpet in Bach’s B Minor Mass at St James’s Church, Sussex Gardens, London. The performance was directed by Ivor Setterfield. He led the Barts Choir and the Trafalgar Baroque Ensemble throughout a day of enjoyably intensive rehearsals on Saturday 10th June 2017. The performance took place at 6:30pm and the project raised funds for the charity Mind.Beautiful church, stunning

I performed with Solomon’s Knot in Halle (Saale) and Regensburg in Germany. We performed the Dublin version (1742) of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ in the Dom zu Halle as part of the Halle Händel-Festspiele on Friday 2nd of June. Two nights later we performed in the Dreieinigkeitskirche in Regensburg as part of the Tage Alter Musik festival. Rehearsals took place in London and the group worked

The American International Church on Tottenham Court Road welcomed the City Bach Collective for a performance of J. S. Bach's 'Ascension Oratorio' [BWV 11] on Sunday 21st May 2017. The performance took place as part of the 11am service.It was directed by the American International Church's Director of Music, Scott Stroman, who also gave an informative and entertaining 'Children's Sermon'.

Robert Hollingworth’s ensemble I Fagiolini gave a semi-staged performance of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo in the London Festival of Baroque Music at St. John’s Smith Square on Thursday 18th May 2017. The brilliant Matthew Long performed the role of Orfeo.I performed the clarino part in the opening Toccata, playing the natural trumpet (without holes) with players from the English Cornett and Sackbutt

I played first trumpet in Bach’s ‘B Minor Mass’ in a performance at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London on Thursday 20th of April 2017. Ivor Setterfield directed the The New London Singers, the Trafalgar Baroque Ensemble and the soloists: Grace Davidson (Soprano), Timothy Morgan (Countertenor), Peter Kirk (Tenor) and Timothy Nelson (Bass).Et in terra pax! Still time to join us tonight in London

‘Gloria in Excelsis’, ‘Sanctus’ and ‘Agnus Dei’ from Mozart’s ‘Coronation Mass’ (K.317) were performed as parts of the Easter Sunday service (Sung Eucharist with Holy Baptism) at the Parish Church of St. Anne in Kew Green on Easter Sunday, 16th April 2017. I played first trumpet in the orchestra, directed by Chad Kelly. The Choir of St. Anne’s Kew Green sang brilliantly under Chad’s

Goldsmiths Choral Union and the orchestra, 'Musicians of London' performed Handel's 'Dettingen Te Deum', Handel's 'Te Deum in A' and Bach's 'Magnificat' at Cadogan Hall in London on Wednesday 5th of April 2017.Brian Wright conducted the choir, orchestra and their excellent group of soloists: Rachel Ambrose Evans (soprano), Ruth Provost (soprano), Benjamin Williamson (countertenor), Peter Harris (tenor)

I played first trumpet in a performance of Handel’s Messiah on Saturday 18th of March 2017 at St. John’s Church, on Spencer Hill in Wimbledon. The performance involved members of the pro-choir Sonoro, the Wimbledon Community Chorus and the Sonoro Baroque Ensemble, led by Susie Carpenter-Jacobs.The performance was conducted by one of the Artistic Directors of Sonoro, Neil Ferris [who has recently

Performing at St. Martin-in-the-Fields is always a privilege. The site on the North-East corner of London's iconic Trafalgar Square has a fascinating history dating back to Roman times (c.410 AD). A magnificent example of Neoclassical architecture, the current building was designed by architect James Gibbs and construction was completed in 1726.Concerts at St. Martin-in-the-Fields tend to attract sizeable

On Thursday 9th of March 2017, I was involved in delivering a Historically Informed Performance Class at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Four members of the period-instrument ensemble ‘Spiritato!’ talked about their recent ‘Guts & Glory’ project - which involved discussing many of the key aspects of being a Historically Informed performer. The class focused on the pros and cons of

On Saturday the 28th of January 2017, I performed Bach’s Magnificat [BWV 243] and the Cantata: Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis [BWV 21] at St. Martin-in-the-Fields as part of the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London.Bach's Magnificat is, of course, very well-known and it pairs excellently with BWV 21. I played a very similar programme (although it was the E-flat Magnificat) at the Leipzig BachFest

December 2016 has consisted of several Messiah, B Minor Mass, Magnificat and Christmas Oratorio performances. The final concert before the festive season offered a similarly balanced variety of music from Handel and Bach. It featured Part I of Handel's Messiah in the first half and Bach's Magnificat in D [BWV 243] in the second half. The performance took place at St. Anne's in Kew Green, London on

Solomon’s Knot Baroque Collective performed Bach’s B Minor Mass on Sunday the 11th of December 2016 at Shoreditch Town Hall in London. This, the penultimate concert of Spitalfields Music’s Winter Festival 2016, had been selected by The Times as their 'top pick' in the Classical column (written by Richard Morrison).© James BerrySolomon's Knot brought their characteristic - now trademark

Oxford Baroque performed a programme entitled ‘Bach’s Christmas Vespers 1723’ on Saturday 10th of December 2016 at King’s Place - as part of the venue's ‘Baroque Unwrapped’ season. Jeremy Summerly conducted the choir and orchestra of Oxford Baroque throughout this fascinating programme which included liturgically-linked music by Bach, Franck, Gabrieli, Kuhnau, Praetorius and others.JS Bach

I performed Handel’s ‘Messiah’ at St. Gabriel’s Church in Pimlico on Tuesday 6th of December 2016. The orchestra ‘Spiritato!’ and the Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School was conducted by Scott Price, Director of Music of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School. Photography by Weenson OoThe boys of the Schola Cantorum sang all of the arias, recitatives and choruses in

The Gresham Centre at the church of St Anne & St Agnes (near the old city wall of London) was the venue for Voces8's performance of Handel's 'Messiah' on Monday the 5th of December 2016. According to the Gresham Centre's website, there has been a church on this site since 1137 - though it has been rebuilt several times due to fire (including the 1666 Great Fire of London) and the Blitz of the Second

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment joined forces with Camden Music to put on an educational project called 'Music is Special' at Cecil Sharp House on Monday 21st of November 2016. This innovative project integrated students from two special needs schools and two mainstream schools with the period-instrument players of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Composer and animateur, Sam Chaplin

Venturing into the 18th Century, the Monteverdi String Band performed Handel’s ‘Messiah’ with The Ripieno Choir (directed by David Hansell) in the London suburb of Esher on Saturday 19th of November 2016. The Monteverdi String Band was joined by two oboes, a bassoon, two trumpets and timpani for the performance of Handel’s glorious ‘Messiah’.Wonderful evening yesterday venturing into the

Cadogan Hall was the venue for a concert given by Goldsmiths Choral Union, celebrating the 70th birthday of their acclaimed and longstanding Musical Director, Brian Wright. The programme consisted of Haydn’s 'Nelson Mass' and Mozart’s ‘Requiem’. The choral union was accompanied by the ‘Musicians of London’ orchestra.The period-instrument orchestra featured a fantastic obbligato from Martyn

I performed Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ with the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists at St. Martin-in-the-fields at 1900 on Thursday 15th of September 2016. The first half of the concert explored instrumental works by J.S. Bach. The Violin Concerto in E major (BWV 1042) and the 'Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G major' (BWV1048) were finely-played and led by violinist, Persephone Gibbs.Oboist, Tony Robson and natural

As a young lad, if I showed any reluctance to attend a rehearsal I was given the choice of: 'band, ballet or bed'. I ruled out ballet immediately and always chose band eventually. To a six-year-old, the prospect of going to bed early seemed like a punishment - how times change! Being allowed to stay up late was a privilege reserved for very special occasions - one such occasion being the Last Night

I performed Tudor music from the time of King Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th of July 2016. I played the natural trumpet and the cornetto in several different formations of ensemble, in various locations around the palace and grounds. Other colleagues played upon the sackbutt, lute, tenor drum, tambourine, bagpipe and hurdy-gurdy, showing a selection of the instruments

On Saturday 25th of June 2016, I performed music by Gabrieli, Banchieri, Vaughan-Williams and Rutter in Hampstead Parish Church (St. John-at-Hampstead). The Hampstead Chamber Choir, conducted by Dominic Brennan, had chosen an eclectic mix of music for choir, brass, organ and percussion.The concert began chronologically, with the ancient music in the first half (performed on modern instruments). The

St. Martin-in-the-Fields was the venue for a candlelit concert on Saturday 28th of May 2016. The Brandenburg Sinfonia performed music by Mozart and Haydn with the professional choir of St. Martin’s Voices, led by St. Martin-in-the-Fields’ Director of Music, Andrew Earis. On this occasion, the orchestra played on modern instruments and I played in a section with Paul Archibald. The concert began

On Saturday 21st May 2016 I performed with Sinfonia Britannica in the National Musicians’ Church in London, otherwise known as St Sepulchre-without-Newgate on Holborn Viaduct.Soloists: Miriam Allan, Elizabeth Weisberg, Cathy Bell, Greg Tassell and Julian DebreuilJoanna Tomlinson directed the large and enthusiastic voices of the Constanza Chorus through three demanding works: Vivaldi’s ‘Dixit

I participated in a performance of Bach's B Minor Mass at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. The performance was on modern instruments, so I played on the piccolo trumpet - as is the convention with modern trumpet players. These days, the majority of my work is on period instruments so it is very rare for me to play Baroque music on modern instruments. I did miss the rich sounds of the natural trumpets

I played Cornetto with The Little Baroque Company, performing Monteverdi's Vespers in London's 'City Temple' (Holborn Viaduct) on Monday 25th April 2016. Esther Jones conducted the orchestra and the combined choirs of The Esterhazy Singers and London Youth Choirs. Esther even conducted to another conductor (Greg Hallam) who relayed the tempo to the members of the youth choirs, who were facing away

St Andrew's Church in Cheam, (in the London Borough of Sutton) was the venue for a performance of Bach’s B Minor Mass on Saturday 16th of April 2016. The performance was given by the St Cecilia Chorus and the Little Baroque Company (orchestra). The performance was directed by Jonathan Rennert.It was a fantastic orchestra and the choir did a wonderful job singing this epic and virtuosic work.Soloists:Soprano:

Last week saw the realisation of Spiritato’s innovative ‘Guts and Glory’ project. Exploring ‘equal tension’ strings and using natural trumpets without finger holes, the group devised and delivered a programme of 17th Century music by Biber, Schmelzer, Vejvanovsky and Bertali.The project began with an open rehearsal and discussion event on Friday 8th April 2016 in which Spiritato welcomed

I played first trumpet in Handel's Coronation Anthems in St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. The section consisted of Russell Gilmour, William Russell & Gareth Hoddinott.The Joyful Company of Singers and the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists were conducted by Peter Broadbent in this candlelit concert on Thursday 7th of April, as part of the Brandenburg Choral Festival 2016 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields.The

On Tuesday the 23rd February 2016, the choir 'Sonoro' gave a performance of a programme entitled 'Baroque Masterpieces' at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. The programme showcased the vibrant sonority of this new professional choir with performances of Handel's 'Zadok the Priest', Vivaldi's 'Gloria' and Bach's 'Magnificat in D'. The Sonoro Baroque Ensemble, led by Simon Standage also performed

I was involved in a performance of Monteverdi’s Vespers in the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, just off Trafalgar Square in London. The performance took place at 8pm on Saturday 30th January 2016 and it was given by the choir of Royal Holloway, University of London - directed by Rupert Gough. The orchestra was provided by Bob Porter and was called the ‘Brandenburg Baroque Soloists’. It consisted

The ‘baroque collective’ Solomon’s Knot gave a performance entitled ‘Christmas in Leipzig’ on Monday 21st December 2015 as part of St. John’s Smith Square’s 30th Christmas Festival. The concert featured music by three composers who consecutively held the position of Kantor at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig: Johann Schelle, Johann Kuhnau and Johann Sebastian Bach."This concert gives us a

On Saturday 19th of December 2015, I performed Handel's 'Messiah' at St. Anne's Church in Kew Green, London, with the group Ars Eloquentiae.The performance was directed by the wonderfully energetic Chad Kelly. He lead the ensemble and small chorus through this work from the chamber organ at the front - leading with clarity and excitement. After several encouraging gestures and glances from the director,

The final concert of Spitalfields Music’s Winter Festival was given by the Baroque Collective - ‘Solomon’s Knot’ on Tuesday 15th of December 2015 at Shoreditch Church (St Leonard’s) in London. This was Solomon’s Knot’s debut at Spitalfields Music.The group performed parts I, III, V and VI from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio without a conductor and the eight singers performed the whole concert

I played first trumpet in Handel's Messiah with the Purcell Orchestra on Sunday the 13th of December 2015 in St. Mary Abbots Church, near High Street Kensington in London.The choir were a small and excellent group of vocalists, called the 'St Mary Abbots Singers'. They sailed their way through the Messiah under the clear direction of their conductor Mark Uglow. It was a very pleasant performance and

I participated in a performance of Handel's Messiah in Greenwich, London. The Dulwich Choral Society performed this seasonal favourite on Saturday 12th of December 2015 in the beautiful and highly ornate Chapel of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.We hope you enjoyed our Messiah last night. We're now looking forward to our Dove and Orff concert on Sat 12th March pic.twitter.com/4YgjwGijfC—

‘Spiritato!’ performed a family-orientated programme as part of the ‘Hackney Proms’ at Stoke Newington Town Hall on at 13:15 on Sunday 22nd November 2015. The programme was entitled ‘Gulliver’s Travels: A voyage to Lilliput’.The programme consisted of many short movements that fitted around a script - which was excitingly narrated by Will Russell (dressed as Gulliver). The lively narration

In what has been a busy week, I returned (early in the morning) from Wrocław in Poland to the United Kingdom for a concert on Thursday 19th of November 2015. I returned to the Temple area in London to perform just a few metres away from where I performed ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’ and Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ on Monday 16th of November 2015. This time it was with slightly different forces (The

London's Temple Church was the venue for a concert given by The Bar Choral Society and The Temple Players on Monday 16th of November.The Bar Choral Society, formed in 2014, is a musical collaboration of barristers, judges, other people who work within the legal profession and their family members."The Society rehearses and performs in Temple Church which has a long association with the Law, providing

Was today, 4th November 2015, the beginning of the ‘Messiah season’ this year? Quite possibly, but it began in style at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. The Messiah was directed by William Vann, who holds the Director of Music and Organist position there. I played in a section with Richard Fomison and Robert Howes (Timpani). There were many familiar faces in the choir and orchestra including many

I played for the blessing of the marriage of Manuela Brigitta Sells-Rohrbach and Jonathan Edwin Litchfield Sells-Rohrbach at the Temple Church in London on Saturday 17th of October 2015 at 2pm.The groom, Jonny Sells, is the musical director of 'Solomon's Knot' and resultantly the service was filled with musical excitement. There was an eight-piece choir from Solomon's Knot. The ensemble also included

On Saturday 19th of September, I performed with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in their 'Water Cycle' Education project. The event took place in St. Mary Brookfield church (NW5) at 6pm. The trumpet section consisted of William Russell, myself, Adrian Woodward and Adrian Bending on Timpani. We played Händel's 'Zadok the Priest' and excerpts from Purcell's 'The Fairy Queen'. Will had more

I participated in a performance of Handel’s oratorio 'Israel in Egypt’ with Twickenham Choral Society at All Saints Church in Kingston-upon-Thames. Christopher Herrick directed the choir and the Brandenburg Baroque Sinfonia. I played second trumpet to Neil Brough. The rehearsal was very well organised and it ran exactly to the timings that the director had planned - starting with full forces and

On Wednesday 1st July 2015, I finished teaching for the day and I noticed a missed call on my iPhone. It was from my former teacher Michael Laird. I called him back as I walked to the railway station and he told me, now that he had turned 75, he would be retiring from trumpet playing entirely. He explained that he had played since he was 15 years old and now, 60 years on, it was time to stop playing

One of my ambitions in life is to be able to play everything Bach wrote for the trumpet and associated instruments. This might sound like a fairly modest ambition - it’s not like I’m attempting to climb Mount Everest, win on centre court at Wimbledon or become a best-selling novelist - but you may be surprised by just how much is involved in this seemingly humble endeavour.The collected parts included

Spiritato! gave a concert of a programme entitled ‘Sound the Trumpet’ on Friday 26th of June. The performance was part of the Stroud Green Festival in London which took place in Holy Trinity Church in Stroud Green. The programme itself included works by Purcell, Corbett, Fantini, Rebel, Matteis, Albrici and Franceschini. We had performed a similar programme to this earlier in the year at the Forge

I performed the Last Post and The Rouse in a morning service on Saturday 20th of June, at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. The service was entitled 'A Celebration for the Descendants of Thomas Marks of London [1780-1836]'. Several of his descendants had researched the Marks family history and they had organised a gathering of all of the descendants in this central London location. People had traveled

I played with the orchestra 'Spiritato!' in a performance of music by Purcell, Rameau and Charpentier at St. John’s Smith Square on Wednesday 29th of April 2015. The performance was directed by Scott Price.Spiritato! began the programme with Henry Purcell’s ‘Suite from Abdelazer’. This set the scene for the first half of the concert which exclusively included works by Henry Purcell. The Schola

Bach's B Minor Mass was performed by candlelight at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London on Thursday 9th April 2015. The concert was part of the Brandenburg Choral Festival 2015. Rufus Frowde conducted the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists who accompanied vocalists: Nika Goric (Soprano), Charlotte Schoeters (Soprano), Laura Zigmantaite (Ato), William Blake (Tenor), Nicholas Mogg (Bass) and the Vivamus Chorus.I

Trebles and Altos from the Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School joined the Westminster Cathedral Choir for a performance of J S Bach's B Minor Mass in Westminster Cathedral. Martin Baker conducted the orchestra and choirs. Kirra Thomas led the orchestra.The audience filled Westminster Cathedral and there was an incredible sense of calm silence from the large audience, that remained throughout

The Hand Engravers Association of Great Britain hosted an exhibition at Craft Central in Clerkenwell, London. I had become aware of this organisation after finding and watching their videos on YouTube, and subsequently had been browsing their website. I had been impressed with the videos and the organisation in general and what they are doing to help to spread interest in preserving this craft.33-35

'Spiritato!' gave a concert at The Forge in Camden on Tuesday 3rd of February 2015. The group performed works by:H Purcell: King ArthurOverture : Air : Act I OvertureH Purcell: Sonata in Four Parts No.3 in A minorW Corbett: Suite in DOuverture : Aria : Gavotta : Sarabanda : Minuet : Air Ecossois : Air : Marche : MinuetG F Rebel: Les Caractères de la danse~ Interval ~G Fantini: Sonata a due Trombe

My final Messiah of the year was in Kew Green with Ars Eloquentiae, directed by Chad Kelly.I have had the pleasure of performing with this group on several other occasions over the past few years. This time the group was joined by a hand-picked ensemble of 12 vocalists.The group performed Handel's Messiah to a full audience at St. Anne's Church in Kew Green, London. The good sense of energy made what

I performed Haydn's Nelson Mass in the Wimbledon International Music Festival. The performance took place at St John’s Church on Saturday 8th of November 2014, in a programme which also included Mozart's 'Exsultate Jubilate' (K.165) and Rachmaninov's 'Vespers Music from the All-Night-Vigil'. I had the pleasure of playing in a section with the former principal trumpet player of the BBC Symphony Orchestra,

On Tuesday 4th of November 2014, I performed as an off-stage trumpeter with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in (or technically, just outside) the Royal Festival Hall in London. Sir Mark Elder conducted Donizetti's 'Les Martyrs', directing around 150 performers. My modest role involved playing a straight fanfare trumpet, which was provided for me by the orchestra. It had valves (which

St. Mary-at-Hill is a delightful church in the heart of London. I have been here several times, for rehearsals and recordings but I had never done a performance there before. I had been invited by the Director of Music and Organist Martin Knizia to play Bach's Jauchzett Gott in Allen Landen BWV 51, with the soprano Emily Atkinson.This concert wasn't in fact a concert at all, it was an evening service,