Biography

Experience 2003-2007
Leeds University Symphony Orchestra Leeds University
Principal Bassoon

Performed a host of demanding repertoire including Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Tchaikovsky’s Fourth and Sixth Symphonies.

• Played Contrabassoon in Orff’s Carmina Burana and Mahler’s Ninth Symphony

• Participated in two extremely successful orchestral tours of Barcelona and Tuscany

2003-2007 Leeds Philharmonia Leeds University

Principal Bassoon/Contrabassoon

• Repertoire included Shostakovich’s Eighth Symphony, Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony, Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony, Tippett’s A Child of our Time and Stravinsky’s Octet for winds all under the direction of Eno Koço.

• Librarian for the orchestra
• Woodwind section leader

2003-2006 Leeds University Chamber Orchestra Leeds University

Principal Bassoon

• Works performed included Beethoven’s First, Second, Third and Seventh Symphonies, Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony and Schumann’s Second Symphony.

• Performed premieres of postgraduate students’ compositions.

2000 - 2003 City of Coventry Youth Orchestra Coventry

Principal Bassoon

• Covered a wide range of repertoire to a very high standard.

Education 2003 - 2006 School of Music Leeds

• BA (Hons.) II.i

Awards
Grade 8 bassoon
Grade 6 piano
2002

Awarded the Lord Major of Coventry’s trophy for excellence for contribution to the City of Coventry Youth Orchestra and service to music in Coventry.

Further Experience
Attended Dartington International Summer School in 2007 after being awarded a full bursary to attend week 3 for the Chamber Music course ran by Mark Smith. Under his direction we rehearsed and performed the Poulenc Sextet, Beethoven Quintet, Beethoven Septet and the Glinka Trio.
Participated in bassoon masterclasses with Lawrence Perkins. Participated in Orchestral Workshops performing Elgar’s 3rd Symphony and also in a reworking of the fragments of his piano concerto performed by David Owen-Norris.

Attended Dartington International Summer School with full bursary awards in 2000 and 2002 participating in bassoon master classes with Lawrence Perkins.

Invited to work both in the Midlands and Leeds including Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra with the Birmingham Schools Symphony Orchestra, The Scarlet Pimpernel with the Knowle Operatic Society, West Side Story with the Bradford Youth Players, Mozart Requiem for the Heart of England Singers, Berlioz Symphony Fantastique with the Leeds Symphony Orchestra. Other musicals performed include Oliver, Return to the Forbidden Planet, Anything Goes and The Wizard of Oz.

Sung alto in the Leeds University Chorus in the premiere of Philip Wilby’s completed version of Mozart’s Mass in C Minor with Leeds Baroque Orchestra

Performed with the Serenata Wind Quintet.

I have had experience teaching bassoon, clarinet, alto saxophone and music theory.