Biography
I began learning music way before I ever picked up an instrument, often in a buggy near a stage that my parents were performing on – they’re actor-musicians. I started on violin and piano before I got my two adult front teeth, and once they grew, I began cornet, which grew to a trumpet – and then sometimes a flugelhorn! My local band fostered this love – Frome Town Band – which my whole family has been a part of at some point in time; my dad even learnt the tuba to be a part of it. My love of playing music with people then got me a scholarship to Wells Cathedral School, where I got to play in so many groups, orchestras, quintets, choirs, and even a choreographed drum line!
After 7 years at Wells, I auditioned for some conservatoires in London – including the Royal Academy of Music, where I gained a place, and joined in September 2020, but not before having all my A-levels cancelled and being locked down with my family for 6 months. Despite this being a very trying time for everyone, my family and I did a weekly concert for our neighbours (I’m still not sure if they enjoyed them but it was therapeutic for us) making pop arrangements for trumpet, drum kit, accordion, guitar, tuba/double bass and occasionally trombone. This was one of the most stressful but also creative things that I got to do in that time, and it helped me come to London and survive four years studying. Since then, I’ve performed with my brother as a marimba and trumpet duet, as well as with my trio – Solis Trio, which we formed in Wells and have continued in London winning the brass ensemble prize in my first year at the Academy. I have also performed the Haydn trumpet concerto three times and began more regularly playing the natural trumpet.
To come full circle, I have now followed in my parents’ footsteps and worked as an actor musician, most recently in Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas in the Lyric Hammersmith over Christmas. There I performed all the music in the play, made as many faces as I can, and I was as a foley artist creating all the sound effects throughout!