Biography
Coming from a brass band background, I have been surrounded by music my entire life. With both of my parents playing cornet in brass bands, I grew up immersed in rehearsals at St. Ronan’s Silver Band in Innerleithen from an early age. Those experiences sparked my love for music, and with instruments always close at hand, I would often pick them up and learn tunes from my dad before starting formal lessons in primary school. I’m incredibly grateful to have been raised within the brass band tradition — a community I remain proudly involved in today.
As I grew older, my passion for music continued to grow. I performed with ensembles such as the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, and the Whitburn Brass Band. These opportunities inspired me to take up the trumpet, and in 2016 I joined the Junior Department at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, studying under Hedley Benson (BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra). In 2019, I was awarded a full scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London, where I spent six years studying and graduated in July 2025 with a master’s degree.
During my time at the RCM, I performed with a wide range of ensembles, including the Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra, Brass Ensemble, and Jazz Orchestra. These experiences gave me the opportunity to explore an extensive repertoire and collaborate with world-renowned conductors such as Antonio Pappano, Vassily Petrenko, Rafael Payare, and Martyn Brabbins.
Alongside my studies, I started working as a freelance musician, performing with a variety of ensembles — from orchestras and brass bands to oompah groups and pop bands. I have been fortunate to work with some of the UK’s leading orchestras, including the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, and London Concert Orchestra. I am also a member of Zone One Brass, a London-based brass band made up of professional musicians and students.
In addition to performing, I am passionate about music education and have spent the past three years teaching brass in West London, helping to inspire and guide the next generation of musicians.