As principal trombone of the wonderful Kensington Symphony Orchestra since the mid 1990s, and with countless other orchestras, I’ve enjoyed …
… every Mahler symphony, every Bruckner symphony, every Tchaik, Sibelius, Brahms, Dvorak, Schumann, Walton … well, pretty much all mainstream symphonies.
When this crescendo to an octave jump (18s) works out, it makes all the waiting, all the sitting in rehearsals, all the traveling, money, beer and time … worthwhile as it crowns a tremendous musical moment.
… every Shostakovich symphony – with London Shostakovich Orchestra (including the batshit 2nd with its huge recitative, and the astonishing 4th symphony, which I’ve performed four times so far…)
Shostakovich 4th symphony has a strange trombone solo in the last movement
KSO highlights have got to be Mahler 2 in Barbican Hall, Mahler 3 in Fairfield Halls, Mahler 9 in St John’s, Smith Square, Peter Grimes in QEH. TBH almost every KSO concert is a wonderful experience.
I have yet to perform a concerto, but did include Leopold Mozart concerto in a recital at St Olave’s church, celebrating my victory in “Office Musician of the Year” in 2012.
Full list of works I’ve played just with KSO
The other orchestras and ensembles are far too many to list, but notable are:
- Corinthian Orchestra – I’ve played principal and second (with the excellent Mr Carnac) in several of this stunning band’s performances in Queen Elizabeth Hall: Mahler 10, Stravinsky Firebird, Bartok and Luto Concertos for Orchestra, …
- Orchestra of St Paul
- Cambridge Phil
- City Of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra
- Covent Garden Chamber Orchestra
… and, over the years, most of the non-professional orchestras in London, Oxford and Cambridge
- I played Mahler 3 with KSO in Fairfield Halls (May 2023)
- I played the big alto trombone solo in Thomas’s Hamlet in the QEH with COG
- I’ve played the horrendous Berg 3 Orchestral pieces that starts on pianissimo high Eb – and the scary arpeggio in Daphnis complete ballet.
- I can’t count how many times I’ve played Mozart Requiem and Mass in C Minor – usually on alto trombone: Music that brings out the beauty of the three trombones. Some of these are among the happiest times of my life.
- Turangalila twice, Sacre a good half dozen times … Symphony of Psalms, Agon (which has a violin and trombone duet!). Oh and a Ring cycle 🥱.
Glorious trombone bit in Sibelius’ 7th symphony.