In the late 80's and early 90s I did a lot of freelance/semi-pro trumpet playing but these days I spend my time working for a charity and playing the trumpet and cornet on an amateur basis.
Before moving to Edinburgh I played the trumpet with the Open Orchestra for seven years until 2010. After moving to Edinburgh I spent a year playing solo and principal cornet with Penicuik Silver Band and then solo cornet with Kingdom Brass B until its demise. I then played repiano cornet with the Bathgate Band in First Section.
To contact me click here.
My experience of Edinburgh is that there are not a lot of trumpet playing opportunities here. The same people seem to do all the amateur orchestras and there is a preference for people who have been to music college. As a result, most of my recent playing has been outside Edinburgh and mainly in the brass band world.
I have a real passion for promoting the cornet as a "proper" instrument, not just a poor relation to the trumpet.
This is currently my main orchestral trumpet. I have two tuning slides -
one with the single water key and one with two uberblasenklappen, or
Vienna keys for C and A.
The Scherzer 8218W is based on the Monke design which is why they call
it their "Kölner Modell". The bore is 11.5mm (slightly larger than most
rotary trumpets). The bell is made of gold brass.
The same model of trumpet that was played by Louis Armstrong. Mine was made in 1952 and was from the same production batch as the one played by Armstrong on the Ella and Louis albums. .450" bore. Quite small by today's standards, but has a surprising depth to the sound. More on this instrument here.
Ablassen Fanfare:
La vie en Rose:I am currently not a member of a brass band, but I practice for an hour a day, play a bit of traditional jazz, and play the trumpet with the Colinton Orchestra in Edinburgh. I also do a bit of home recording and you can find the videos on my Youtube Channel.
I started playing at the age of 10 (french horn) switched to euphonium at 14 (because I really wanted to play in a brass band) and then trumpet and cornet at around the age of 19.
My brass band experience includes Stirling Public Band, Alloa Band (1st and 2nd section) and Alva Band (championship section), Livingston Brass Band, Newlands Concert Brass, principal cornet with Penicuik and solo cornet with Kingdom Brass B. I have played Bb cornet and Eb soprano cornet. This sounds like a lot of bands, but all these changes coincided with house moves.
As an orchestral trumpet player, I have performed a wide range of repertoire from baroque to modern works including concertos and other solos. This includes a lot of piccolo trumpet playing in baroque music.
Favourite players: Maurice Andre, Phillip McCann, Ludwig Güttler, Chet Baker, Jack Mackintosh, Bix Beiderbecke and, of course, Louis Armstrong.
I started playing at the age of 10 (french horn) switched to euphonium at 14 (because I really wanted to play in a brass band) and then trumpet and cornet at around the age of 19.
My brass band experience includes Stirling Public Band, Alloa Band (1st and 2nd section) and Alva Band (championship section), Livingston Brass Band, Newlands Concert Brass, principal cornet with Penicuik and solo cornet with Kingdom Brass B. I have played Bb cornet and Eb soprano cornet. This sounds like a lot of bands, but all these changes coincided with house moves.
As an orchestral trumpet player, I have performed a wide range of repertoire from baroque to modern works including concertos and other solos. This includes a lot of piccolo trumpet playing in baroque music.
Favourite players: Maurice Andre, Phillip McCann, Ludwig Güttler, Chet Baker, Jack Mackintosh, Bix Beiderbecke and, of course, Louis Armstrong.
Equipment
I have a range of instruments for different types of playing.Bb Trumpet - Bach Stradivarius 43
I used to play on Monette equipment but switched to this a couple of years ago. It has a larger bell than the standard 37 Bach trumpet that most players use but it is still a medium-large bore. It was bought as a compromise for big band or orchestral playing. I find it works well in all situations.Bb Trumpet - Schilke S22
This is a large bore orchestral trumpet with a heavyweight bell. It sounds very similar to a Bach 25, but with a much better response.Bb Rotary Trumpet - Scherzer 8218W
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| Scherzer 8218W |
Bb Trumpet - Selmer 19A Balanced
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| Selmer Paris 19A Balanced Trumpet |
Mouthpieces
I have big lips and tend towards larger mouthpieces. I spent a number of years playing on slightly smaller mouthpieces, but after a major lip injury, I went back to larger diameters again. I now play Warburton 1 rims. On cornet 1BC/8*. On orchestral usually, trumpet 1MD/P. I also use a Yamaha John Wallace mouthpiece on the trumpet for more delicate articulation.For jazz I use a Warburton 1MV with a J28 reverse taper backbore. This is an interesting set up.
This gives you some idea of the types of music I have performed in concerts over the years.
Nessun Dorma:
Piccolo Trumpet - Selmer
Four valve, 1984 model with the third generation leadpipes.
Eb Trumpet - JP 175
This is one of Packer's earlier Eb/D trumpets and is a rebadged Andreas Eastman, made in Taiwan. This is based on a 1970's Yamaha design with a larger bore but smaller bell than the current Yamaha models. It is a really interesting instrument and plays surprisingly well.
Flugel Horn - Courtois 154
This instrument is from the early 2000s and is of the narrow bore style of French flugel. It has a massive bell and is a really interesting instrument.Cornet - Geneva Heritage
This is a truly great cornet. You can read my review of it here.Cornet - Douglas & Sons
This is a collectors item , made in the late 19th century in Glasgow. You can read the full story of this instrument and my research into the maker here, or view my video review - here.Cornet - Old Ambassador "Big Easy Mk 3" modified by Peter Pollard
This cornet original belonged to the jazz musician Dave Copperwaite from Manchester. It was modified by Peter Pollard. The leadpipe and bell tail had some expansion, it has a tighter radius main tuning slide fitted and it was converted to trumpet receiver. It plays incredibly evenly across its range and was designed to be easy to play. That's why it is engraved "Big Easy III".
Repertoire
This gives you some idea of the types of music I have performed in concerts over the years.
Solo Performances
- Trumpet Concerto in Eb - J Haydn
- Trumpet Concerto in D - Telemann
- Trumpet Concerto in D - Fasch
- Carnival of Venice - Arban (Cornet)
- Trumpet Sonata - Purcell
- Suite in D - Jeremiah Clarke
Orchestral
- Most of the standard classical and romantic repertoire.
- Bach Mass in B Minor and Christmas Oratorio.
- Verdi Requiem.
- Vaughan Williams Symphony no 2 (London) (Trumpet and Cornet parts).
Ensemble
- Played with a 10 piece brass ensemble (using London Brass / PJBE arrangements).
Operas
- Marriage of Figaro - Mozart
- The Mikado - Gilbert and Sullivan
Musicals
- Camelot
- West Side Story
- My Fair Lady
- Kiss me Kate
Oratorios
- Christmas Oratorio - Bach
- Messiah - Handel
Big Band
- Played trumpet with Forth Dimension big band in the late '80s.
- Occasional playing in local bands.
Brass Band
Solo cornet or soprano cornet with:- Alloa Town Band (1st Section)
- The Alva Band (Championship Section)
- Newland Concert Brass
- Penicuik Silver Band (principal cornet)
- Kingdom Brass B (second solo cornet)
- Bathgate Band (repiano cornet)
Clips
Here are some recent clips of me playing trumpet, cornet and piccolo trumpet. You can find more on my Youtube Channel.Cornet
Nessun Dorma:
Share my Yoke (this performance came 7th in an international contest organised during the first lockdown):
Piccolo Trumpet
Queen of the Night's aria from The Magic Flute:Ablassen Fanfare:
Bb Trumpet
Eb Trumpet
Telemann Concerto in F Minor:Contact me
If you are in Edinburgh and looking for a good trumpet or cornet player please get in touch. I would love to play more demanding orchestral repertoire, or some decent jazz, while I still can!
