Biography
I grew up on Dartmoor, Devon and have always been encouraged to make music. One of my earliest memories is playing the recorder (badly) on a (public) beach on holiday with my sister. At four years old I started learning the Suzuki method on piano under Helen Wills. This fostered a great love for the creativity of music making where I wasn’t hindered by the written form of music and could fully express myself. Although I loved the piano, my father and I would often listen to the B.B. King ‘How Blue Can you Get?’ album and listening to the ‘horn’ section on it was was a driving factor in my ambition to start a wind instrument and join musical ensembles where I could play with others.
Although not quite as rock’n’roll as intended I eventually settled on the French horn. A few years later in 2016 I was given the opportunity to play in the South West Music Orchestra which gave me my first symphonic experience. Despite being wildly unprepared and out of depth by the end of the first rehearsal I had decided that orchestral playing is what I wanted to do. The course was being held at Wells Cathedral School and by the end of the week I had somehow managed to secure a scholarship to the school for the upcoming autumn term. Two days later I packed up my life in Devon and moved to Wells Cathedral School for four years where I learnt with Simon de Souza. Although it was a huge adjustment, the musical education I received from Simon was formative as an orchestral player and musician, and gave me the necessary skills I needed to start at The Royal Academy of Music for my undergraduate studies which I finished in 2024.
I’ve had the privilege to play and learn alongside amazing musicians and people throughout my musical journey thus far. I’ve played in so many different ensembles and am a member of Solis trio and Quintessential winds. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, BBC concert orchestra and have also played in the west end production of The Lion King! This year I am excited to be representing Sinfonia Smith Square in the 24/25 season.