About Me



As a professional trumpet player I have been lucky enough to play/record/tour with the majority of the UK’s major symphony, opera and ballet orchestras and many excellent freelance orchestras and chamber groups. In particular was a long association with the Philharmonia as a freelance player at a time when John Wallace was principal trumpet there. Our paths crossed a lot, not only there but also in the London Sinfonietta and as a member of The Wallace Collection.

Touring the world with any group is a privilege and a joy. None more so than with a brass group of close friends and colleagues. Tours undertaken as a member of The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, The Wallace Collection and occasional guest of London Brass were definite career highlights.

I run my own group, Off Stage Brass which is usually a quintet but expands to ten players as required. We are very experienced in all types of ceremonial occasions (Weddings , Award ceremonies etc). Many of the freelance orchestras with whom I am involved have asked me to provide themed brass events over the years, a thing I am always happy to do.

I seem to have spent a large part of my life with a piccolo trumpet in my hand playing the ‘high’ seat not only in the brass groups but also in the symphonic repertoire. I looked at my parts recently for the Trumpet Sounds of London album recorded several years ago and had forgotten how many ledger lines had been involved!










Musicals









First Trumpet
(1982-1983)









First Trumpet
(1985-2019)






The 2nd Brandenburg Concerto by J.S. Bach has popped up more times than I can count and I especially remember tours of this piece with The Israel Chamber Orchestra, a tour of Japan with I Fiaminghi and a performance in the House Of Lords, not to mention many performances in the Merton College and Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford.

As an occasional soloist I have given quite a few performances of the more well known trumpet repertoire some highlights being; Shostakovich Concerto for piano and trumpet with John Lill - St Johns Smith Square, same piece played in Moscow and Tel Aviv, Hummel trumpet concerto in Oxford, London and live on Austrian Radio, Haydn Trumpet concerto many times in London, Oxford, Milton Keynes.

I currently have a recital programme for Trumpet, string quartet and keyboard tracing the history of the trumpet (with additional humour) which is available depending on current lockdown specifications.

With nearly all of my freelance activity’s taking place during my record breaking (I think) 34 years as first trumpet for the West End production of Les Miserables, I have tried to be as versatile as possible, crossing borders from nearly all genres of trumpet playing ( in my twenties I dabbled on the dark side, playing lead trumpet with a number of big bands ,but we don’t mention this now)

Like everyone involved in the music business I am looking forward to when ‘ normal service will be resumed’ , I personally can’t wait to get out playing again.










Positions Held






The Gulbenkian Orchestra Lisbon - Principal trumpet 1973-74

D’Oyly Carte Opera - Principal Trumpet 1978-1982

Philip Jones Brass Ensemble - 1983-1985

Milton Keynes City Orchestra - Principal trumpet 2000-2014

Garsington Opera - Principal trumpet 2002-2019

Worthing Symphony Orchestra - Principal trumpet 2008-Present

The Wallace Collection 1987-2002











Freelance



Orchestras with whom I have played during my career include;





BBC Symphony Orchestra BBC Philharmonic BBC Concert Orchestra London Philharmonic Orchestra Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Birmingham Royal Ballet English National Opera Orchestra City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra London Sinfonietta Oxford Philharmonic Israel Chamber Orchestra (guest soloist) I Fiamminghi (guest soloist) Camerata Ireland








Period Instrument Orchestras



Orchestras with whom I have played during my career include;


English Baroque Soloists


Orchestra of the 18th Century (Amsterdam)


Hanover Band












Advisory



In addition to Tim's performing career, he also tests and advises on mutes and mouthpieces for Denis Wick Products.





(A recent visit to the Denis Wick Factory)