When I was a student at the Royal College of Music I proposed a series of classes (in 2011) that would be organised and directed by postgraduate students from the Historical Performance department. Since I had proposed the idea, I had the job of arranging the inaugural class and I could choose the repertoire myself. I chose Johann Sebastian Bach’s ‘Christen, ätzet diesen Tag’ [BWV 63], originally

St John’s Voices performed a varied programme on Saturday 7th December 2019 in the resplendent College Chapel at St. John’s College in Cambridge. I played first trumpet in the Cambridge Baroque Camerata, led by Jane Gordon (violin) and conducted by Graham Walker, with fellow trumpet players Will Russell (second trumpet) and Gareth Hoddinott (third trumpet) in the section.The performance began with

Vox Luminis performed Bach's B Minor Mass at the Carré Magique in Lannion in Brittany on Sunday 6th October 2019.Myself, Will Russell and Katie Hodges (trumpeters) travelled from the UK entirely by rail, changing trains in Paris and Plouaret Trégor. The orchestra and choir of Vox Luminis arrived in Lannion to begin rehearsals on Friday 4th October. This would be our first time playing the B Minor

After I played in the BBC Proms for the first time in September 2016 I wrote about the inspiring influence of being allowed to stay up late as a child to watch the Last Night of the Proms - broadcast live from the Royal Albert Hall. Later in life, as a postgraduate student at the Royal College of Music, the area around the Royal Albert Hall became very familiar. On occasion, I would have morning rehearsals

As I played the final phrase of my tenth performance of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.2 in F major [BWV 1047] (which took place last Saturday at Castle Ashby) I felt as I often do after playing that piece - that it would be great to play it again very soon. Playing Brandenburg 2 is a definite adrenaline rush and there’s something in the thrill of its survival that makes you

July 2019 saw a personal milestone with a 10th performance of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major [BWV 1047] on the natural trumpet. I first performed this notorious work on the 24th June 2011 while studying historical performance at the Royal College of Music and I have subsequently performed it at Bedford School, at St. Anne’s in Kew Green in Richmond, at the Valletta Baroque Festival

Solomon’s Knot gave three performances during a residency at the Ryedale Festival in Yorkshire. The festival has been described by the Guardian newspaper as ‘the jewel in Yorkshire’s cultural crown’ and browsing though their brochure, it was evident that this is an exceptional festival.The first concert of Solomon’s Knot’s residency took place at Ampleforth Abbey and it featured Bach cantatas

I performed Purcell’s ‘Hark! the echoing air’ from the Fairy Queen with Clare Lloyd-Griffiths (soprano) and Solomon’s Knot as part of a special Proms edition of the BBC Radio 3 programme ‘In Tune’. The live broadcast took place just after the 17:00 news on Friday 19th July 2019 (the First Night of the Proms) in front of an audience at Imperial College London on Prince Consort Road. The

I performed a programme of baroque music (on modern instruments) with the Brandenburg Sinfonia at St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Saturday 1st June 2019. I played third trumpet in the section with (fellow Manx man) Sam Kinrade and Ellie Lovegrove on 1st and 2nd, respectively. The programme began with Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum [HWV 283] and continued after the interval with Bach’s Orchestral Suite

The choir and players of the Collegium Musicum of London performed Bach’s B Minor Mass under the direction of Greg Morris on Saturday 27th of April 2019 at St James’ Piccadilly. I played first natural trumpet in the baroque orchestra led by violinist Persephone Gibbs, with Richard Thomas playing second trumpet, Tamsin Cowell on third trumpet and Robert Kendell on timpani. The soloists were: Philippa

I performed Bach’s B Minor Mass [BWV 232] with the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists and the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir on Wednesday 17th April 2019. The performance was directed by Ralph Allwood MBE (who I had remembered from a previous Brandenburg Baroque Soloists performance at Wellington College in August 2017).The Old Royal Naval College Chapel is a magnificent building -

At the invitation of Adrian France, Head of Brass, I gave a natural trumpet masterclass to the brass students of Newcastle University on Wednesday 31st January 2019. The class took place between 14:00 and 16:00 in the spacious Robert Boyle Lecture Theatre in the Armstrong Building, on the main University campus. I was glad to be able to deliver a masterclass to higher education students on the subject

Spain is a country I have visited only twice before. The more recent trip was to Úbeda with the Academy of Ancient Music in 2013. I performed as a soloist playing Handel’s Diana cacciatrice [HWV 79] with the soprano soloist Lucy Crowe. Before that I visited Spain for the first time with Le Concert Lorrain. We finished an extensive European tour in Burgos on the 21st of December 2010 with a performance

Music by three successive Leipzig Thomaskantors (incidentally, all with the first name Johann) was the focus of Solomon’s Knot’s performances in Advent 2018. Rehearsals for the programme entitled ‘Christmas in Leipzig’ began on 26th November 2018 at Holy Trinity Church on Prince Consort Road in London. The first public performance took place at St. Mary’s Church in the Lace Market, Nottingham

Although I am something of a regular flyer, I still find aerial views to be inspiring, humbling and often quite moving. This was especially true as there was hardly a cloud in the sky between London Heathrow Airport and Franjo Tuđman Airport in Zagreb on Thursday 27th September 2018.Upon arrival I was greeted by a familiar face, that of Krešimir Fabijanić. Krešimir (also known, for reasons unknown,

After enjoyable projects over the summer with Vox Luminis in Uzès and at the Utrecht Early Music Festival, it was great to rejoin our friends and colleagues for two more festival appearances on consecutive evenings. The ensemble performed Handel’s Dixit Dominus [HWV 23] and Bach’s Magnificat [BWV 243] in the Ambronay Festival (Festival D’Ambronay) on Friday 21st September 2018 and in the

Russell Gilmour (1st trumpet), William Russell (2nd trumpet), Gareth Hoddinott (3rd trumpet) and Keith Price (timpani) performed Bach’s B Minor Mass on Wednesday 22nd August 2018 in Southwell Minster in Nottinghamshire as part of the Southwell Music Festival. The Southwell Festival Baroque Sinfonia was led from the baroque violin by one of the Artistic Directors Jamie Campbell. The other Artistic

The historic Church of St Mary and All Saints in Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire was the venue for Fiori Musicali’s concert on Saturday 18th of August 2018. The performance celebrating the Feast of the Assumption featured music by Bach, Marcello, Vivaldi and Zelenka.The church (currently undergoing some restoration work) at Fotheringhay is close to the remains of Fotheringhay Castle which was once

Before travelling to Uzès for two performances with Vox Luminis, the trumpet section (Russell Gilmour, William Russell and Gareth Hoddinott) rendezvoused at Gareth & Cecile’s holiday home in the Alps at Montgilbert in the Maurienne valley in the Savoie region. Meeting up a few days beforehand allowed us to travel via more convenient airports on both sides (avoiding Ryanair) and it enabled us

Celebrating 333 years since the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach, the Director of Music at the St. Marien Kirche in Rendsburg (Volker Linhardt) invited Russell Gilmour, William Russell and Gareth Hoddinott (listed on the posters as ‘Trompetenensemble Russell Gilmour (London)') to perform with the Kantatenchor St. Marien Rendsburg and Members of the Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert entitled

After an incredible fortnight at the Göttingen International Handel Festival I returned to the UK via the Hook of Holland to Harwich ferry to join Solomon’s Knot in their continuing B Minor Mass UK tour; a project that began in December 2016 at Shoreditch Town Hall and has seen subsequent performances in Ulverston (July 2017), Nottingham and at St. John’s Smith Square in London (December

I played first trumpet in Bach's B Minor Mass with the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists on Saturday 17th March 2018. The performance, featuring The Windsor and Eton Choral Society and soloists: Gemma Summerfield (soprano), Tim Travers-Brown (countertenor), Tom Raskin (tenor) and Alex Ashworth (baritone) took place in the School Hall at Eton College.Founded in 1837, the Windsor and Eton Choral Society is

It was great to play with Voces8 again after the successful Messiah performance last year.On Wednesday 20th December 2017 the group performed Bach’s Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme [BWV 140], three carols, and Bach’s Magnificat in D [BWV 243], at Voces8’s home - the (surprisingly reverberant) Gresham Centre. The performance was ably conducted by Voces8's Artistic Director, Barnaby Smith.Final

Following memorable performances in December 2016 (Shoreditch Town Hall) and in July 2017 (Ulverston), Solomon’s Knot gave two subsequent performances of J. S. Bach’s B Minor Mass in December 2017; the first in Nottingham and the second at St. John’s Smith Square, London. The following video was filmed at Shoreditch Town Hall (December 2016) and published in advance of the ​Nottingham &

I began playing on Friday 15th of December 2017 at 10am at Holy Trinity Church (Prince Consort Road) with an intensive B Minor Mass rehearsal with Solomon’s Knot ahead of their performances in Nottingham (16th Dec) and at St. John’s Smith Square (18th Dec). After this rehearsal, I walked to Cadogan Hall and took part in an afternoon rehearsal and evening performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio

I performed with Devon Baroque in the Great Hall at Dartington on Sunday 29th October 2017 for a concert entitled “Musical Battles, and the Trumpet, Naturally”. I performed Torelli’s ‘Concerto in D for trumpet and strings’ [G1] and as one of the four featured soloists in Bach’s ‘Brandenburg Concerto No.2 in F Major’ [BWV 1047].Tromba - Russell GilmourFlauto - Olwen FoulkesHautbois -

Saturday saw glorious autumnal sunshine, so I took the opportunity to explore the hamlet of Flatford in the Stour Valley. I walked around the countryside that is synonymous with John Constable; it was Flatford where Constable painted his ‘Scene on a Navigable River’. After an enjoyable walk, I drove the few remaining miles to Stoke by Nayland (also in the Stour Valley, in Suffolk) where I would

Russell Gilmour, William Russell and Gareth Hoddinott travelled to Saarbrücken in Germany to perform with Le Concert Lorrain and the newly re-named BachChor Saarbrücken, with whom we have built up an excellent rapport over many years. The trumpet section was joined by timpanist Simon Stierle and it is always great to work with him. The performance took place at 6pm on Sunday 17th September 2017 in

Sunday 10th September 2017 saw a performance of J. S. Bach's 'Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott' [BWV 129] as part of the Lutheran Vespers at St Michael at the North Gate in Oxford. Oxford Bach Soloists, directed by Tom Hammond-Davies, performed the cantata liturgically as part of this 4pm service. The church was full to capacity.BWV 129 was written in 1724/5 for the Feast of the Trinity (possibly in

Exeter Cathedral was the venue for ‘Grand Baroque III’, a programme compiled by Blackdowns Early Music Projects which featured several ‘German Choral Masterworks’ from composers such as Rosenmüller, Schelle and Kuhnau. The performance took place at Exeter Cathedral on Monday 28th August 2017.The baroque orchestra consisted of the English Cornett and Sackbutt Ensemble, the Monteverdi String

On Monday 21st of August 2017, I played first trumpet with the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists for a workshopped performance of Bach’s Magnificat in D Major (BWV 243). The performance was the culmination of a residential choral course for young singers at the stunning venue of Wellington College in Crowthorne, Berkshire and the group was directed by Ralph Allwood MBE.The choir took on the momentous

Lake District Summer Music’s 33rd festival season opened on Saturday the 29th July 2017 at Ulverston’s Coronation Hall with an "electrifying performance" of Bach’s B Minor Mass, performed by Solomon’s Knot.Get yourself to @corohall for 7:30pm tonight to hear Bach B minor Mass. @solomonsknot sounding phenomenal in rehearsal. Tickets on door pic.twitter.com/oC5VYM2yWN— LDSM Festival 2017

I played first trumpet in Bach’s B Minor Mass at St James’s Church, Sussex Gardens, London. The performance was directed by Ivor Setterfield. He led the Barts Choir and the Trafalgar Baroque Ensemble throughout a day of enjoyably intensive rehearsals on Saturday 10th June 2017. The performance took place at 6:30pm and the project raised funds for the charity Mind.Beautiful church, stunning

The American International Church on Tottenham Court Road welcomed the City Bach Collective for a performance of J. S. Bach's 'Ascension Oratorio' [BWV 11] on Sunday 21st May 2017. The performance took place as part of the 11am service.It was directed by the American International Church's Director of Music, Scott Stroman, who also gave an informative and entertaining 'Children's Sermon'.

Exactly a week after playing in Oxford with the Oxford Bach Soloists, I was back in the 'City of Dreaming Spires' for the Taverner Consort's Symposium, entitled 'A Pursuit of Music'. The talk took place at Oxford University's Faculty of Music and Bate Collection on Sunday 23rd of April 2017. I had given a talk at the previous event (Taverner at 40 - April 2013) and it was remembered that I had shown

I played first trumpet in Bach’s ‘B Minor Mass’ in a performance at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London on Thursday 20th of April 2017. Ivor Setterfield directed the The New London Singers, the Trafalgar Baroque Ensemble and the soloists: Grace Davidson (Soprano), Timothy Morgan (Countertenor), Peter Kirk (Tenor) and Timothy Nelson (Bass).Et in terra pax! Still time to join us tonight in London

‘Gloria in Excelsis’, ‘Sanctus’ and ‘Agnus Dei’ from Mozart’s ‘Coronation Mass’ (K.317) were performed as parts of the Easter Sunday service (Sung Eucharist with Holy Baptism) at the Parish Church of St. Anne in Kew Green on Easter Sunday, 16th April 2017. I played first trumpet in the orchestra, directed by Chad Kelly. The Choir of St. Anne’s Kew Green sang brilliantly under Chad’s

I performed with the Oxford Bach Soloists on the cornetto and natural trumpet. The group performed two contrasting works by Johann Sebastian Bach: ‘Christ Lag in Todes Banden’ (BWV 4) and the Easter Oratorio (BWV 249). The performance was conducted by Tom Hammond-Davies and took place at New College, Oxford on Easter Saturday: 15th April 2017. The concert began with the première of ‘Roads Shining

Goldsmiths Choral Union and the orchestra, 'Musicians of London' performed Handel's 'Dettingen Te Deum', Handel's 'Te Deum in A' and Bach's 'Magnificat' at Cadogan Hall in London on Wednesday 5th of April 2017.Brian Wright conducted the choir, orchestra and their excellent group of soloists: Rachel Ambrose Evans (soprano), Ruth Provost (soprano), Benjamin Williamson (countertenor), Peter Harris (tenor)

December 2016 has consisted of several Messiah, B Minor Mass, Magnificat and Christmas Oratorio performances. The final concert before the festive season offered a similarly balanced variety of music from Handel and Bach. It featured Part I of Handel's Messiah in the first half and Bach's Magnificat in D [BWV 243] in the second half. The performance took place at St. Anne's in Kew Green, London on

After two days and two Weihnachtsoratorium performances in Germany, I travelled on to Luxembourg by train and car to join a different Weihnachtsoratorium project, this time with Le Concert Lorrain on Monday 19th of December 2016. From the starting point in Halle I went by train to Köln via Hannover - where I met the third trumpet player, Gareth. From the outskirts of Köln, we met the conductor who

I performed Bach's Weihnachtsoratorium [BWV 248, Cantatas I–III & VI] with the Halle Händelfestpiele Orkester in Zerbst (17th December 2016) and Halle (18th December 2016) in Germany. I had been invited to play with the orchestra as their guest principal trumpet player. The Stadtsingechor zu Halle and the choir of Halle University joined forces to sing the Christmas Oratorio,

Solomon’s Knot Baroque Collective performed Bach’s B Minor Mass on Sunday the 11th of December 2016 at Shoreditch Town Hall in London. This, the penultimate concert of Spitalfields Music’s Winter Festival 2016, had been selected by The Times as their 'top pick' in the Classical column (written by Richard Morrison).© James BerrySolomon's Knot brought their characteristic - now trademark

Oxford Baroque performed a programme entitled ‘Bach’s Christmas Vespers 1723’ on Saturday 10th of December 2016 at King’s Place - as part of the venue's ‘Baroque Unwrapped’ season. Jeremy Summerly conducted the choir and orchestra of Oxford Baroque throughout this fascinating programme which included liturgically-linked music by Bach, Franck, Gabrieli, Kuhnau, Praetorius and others.JS Bach

Devon Baroque and Exeter Festival Chorus performed J S Bach's Christmas Oratorio in Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 3rd December 2016. The performance was directed by Aidan Oliver.The Exeter Festival Chorus did an excellent job and the soloists, Anna Patalong (soprano), Kate Symonds-Joy (alto), David Webb (tenor) and Benedict Nelson (bass) were all very good too.The guest conductor, Aidan Oliver, had

I performed Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ with the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists at St. Martin-in-the-fields at 1900 on Thursday 15th of September 2016. The first half of the concert explored instrumental works by J.S. Bach. The Violin Concerto in E major (BWV 1042) and the 'Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G major' (BWV1048) were finely-played and led by violinist, Persephone Gibbs.Oboist, Tony Robson and natural

I performed with Kasia Slawski (Soprano) in her Final MA Recital which took place at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall at the University of York on Monday 12th of September.Kasia had chosen to sing music by Scarlatti, Handel and Bach. She was accompanied by Peter Seymour on the Harpsichord and Organ, and by myself (Russell Gilmour) on Baroque Trumpets in C and in D.Her recital began with two movements

The baroque collective Solomon’s Knot performed on the second day of Leipzig’s Bachfest, giving a concert on Saturday, 11th of June 2016 in the Nikolaikirche. The singers performed the entire concert from memory and the conductorless ensemble wowed the Leipzig audience with what the Leipzig Bachfest described as an ‘outstandingly vivid’ performance. The response from the audience was overwhelming

On Saturday 21st May 2016 I performed with Sinfonia Britannica in the National Musicians’ Church in London, otherwise known as St Sepulchre-without-Newgate on Holborn Viaduct.Soloists: Miriam Allan, Elizabeth Weisberg, Cathy Bell, Greg Tassell and Julian DebreuilJoanna Tomlinson directed the large and enthusiastic voices of the Constanza Chorus through three demanding works: Vivaldi’s ‘Dixit

I participated in a performance of Bach's B Minor Mass at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. The performance was on modern instruments, so I played on the piccolo trumpet - as is the convention with modern trumpet players. These days, the majority of my work is on period instruments so it is very rare for me to play Baroque music on modern instruments. I did miss the rich sounds of the natural trumpets

St Andrew's Church in Cheam, (in the London Borough of Sutton) was the venue for a performance of Bach’s B Minor Mass on Saturday 16th of April 2016. The performance was given by the St Cecilia Chorus and the Little Baroque Company (orchestra). The performance was directed by Jonathan Rennert.It was a fantastic orchestra and the choir did a wonderful job singing this epic and virtuosic work.Soloists:Soprano:

I left home very early on Saturday morning to be able to spend the morning in York before rehearsing and performing there. I had arranged to meet my friend from the Isle of Man (Matthew) and we both arrived in York at 0930. We had a good breakfast before visiting the National Railway Museum and we had a brief wander around York before my rehearsal. With the recent media coverage of the completion and

On Tuesday the 23rd February 2016, the choir 'Sonoro' gave a performance of a programme entitled 'Baroque Masterpieces' at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. The programme showcased the vibrant sonority of this new professional choir with performances of Handel's 'Zadok the Priest', Vivaldi's 'Gloria' and Bach's 'Magnificat in D'. The Sonoro Baroque Ensemble, led by Simon Standage also performed

I visited Germany to play in a New Year Concert at the Congreßhalle in Saarbrücken. It was held on Sunday 2nd of January 2016. I played in the equivalent concert last year, on the 1st of January 2015 - when it was held in the Ludwigskirche in Saarbrücken. The initial idea had been to perform Handel’s Messiah in the 2016 concert, but unfortunately the Congresshalle had already recently hosted a

The ‘baroque collective’ Solomon’s Knot gave a performance entitled ‘Christmas in Leipzig’ on Monday 21st December 2015 as part of St. John’s Smith Square’s 30th Christmas Festival. The concert featured music by three composers who consecutively held the position of Kantor at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig: Johann Schelle, Johann Kuhnau and Johann Sebastian Bach."This concert gives us a

The final concert of Spitalfields Music’s Winter Festival was given by the Baroque Collective - ‘Solomon’s Knot’ on Tuesday 15th of December 2015 at Shoreditch Church (St Leonard’s) in London. This was Solomon’s Knot’s debut at Spitalfields Music.The group performed parts I, III, V and VI from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio without a conductor and the eight singers performed the whole concert

I performed at St Saviour's Church in St Albans on Saturday November 28 2015 at 7:30pm. Conductor John Gibbons conducted the St Albans Chamber Choir and the Lawes Baroque Players through J. S. Bach's B Minor Mass. The soloists were Bethany Partridge, Helen Charlston, Hiroshi Amako and Michael Craddock.

On Saturday morning, I tutored students who were participating in Birmingham University’s Baroque Orchestra. The trumpet players had been asked to play Bach’s Orchestral Suite No.3 (BWV 1068) and Rameau’s Suite from Les Indes Galantes. I spent a few hours helping the students with issues of playing in Baroque style and ensuring they were prepared for the intensive weekend of music.

Playing with ‘Spiritato!’ is becoming synonymous with performing innovative programmes in interesting settings. I participated in a project which involved two performances, the first of which was on October 20th in St. John’s Smith Square in London and the second was on November 1st at Bury Court Barn, in Bentley near Farnham in Surrey. The performances were presented by St. John’s Smith Square

It was an immense honour to perform in the opening concert of the new National Forum of Music (Narodowe Forum Muzyki) in Wrocław, Poland. The NFM is an incredible facility and a stunning addition to Wrocław's architectural skyline and musical culture. It will play a valuable role during Wrocław's 'European Capital of Culture' status in 2016.  The musicians of the Wrocław Baroque Orchestra

I performed with 'The Parley of Instruments', directed from the harpsichord by Peter Holman, in a performance of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.2 in F Major (BWV 1047) in a concert entitled 'Bach's Library' which was given for the participants of the Cambridge Early Music Summer School. The concert took place at 8pm on Wednesday 5th of August 2015 at Great St. Mary's in the Market Place in the magnificent

One of my ambitions in life is to be able to play everything Bach wrote for the trumpet and associated instruments. This might sound like a fairly modest ambition - it’s not like I’m attempting to climb Mount Everest, win on centre court at Wimbledon or become a best-selling novelist - but you may be surprised by just how much is involved in this seemingly humble endeavour.The collected parts included

The London-based orchestra Ars Eloquentiae joined forces with the Fitzwilliam String Quartet to give several performances during a residency at St. Andrews University in Scotland. The project involved performing Gluck's 'Iphigéne en Tauride' with Byre Opera in the Byre Theatre in St. Andrews. There was a Bach project taking place simultaneously which included performing and recording the 'Credo' from

Playing Bach in Germany is always a pleasure. This time I played Bach's Ascension Oratorio (BWV 11) in the Stadtkirche Sankt Marien in Torgau as part of the Ascension day church service.Torgau is a beautifully restored old town in the region of Northwestern Saxony. It is situated on the banks of the river Elbe, Northeast of Leipzig. In the break between the rehearsal and the performance, we visited

Over the weekend, I performed an all-Bach programme in Saarbrücken in Germany with Le Concert Lorrain. The programme included the Easter Oratorio (BWV 249), Concerto for Oboe, Violin, Strings and Basso Continuo (BWV 1060) and the Ascension Oratorio (BWV 11) and it had attracted a large audience to the Stiftskirche St. Arnual in Saarbrücken, Germany for a 5pm performance on Sunday 26th April 2015. The

Bach's B Minor Mass was performed by candlelight at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London on Thursday 9th April 2015. The concert was part of the Brandenburg Choral Festival 2015. Rufus Frowde conducted the Brandenburg Baroque Soloists who accompanied vocalists: Nika Goric (Soprano), Charlotte Schoeters (Soprano), Laura Zigmantaite (Ato), William Blake (Tenor), Nicholas Mogg (Bass) and the Vivamus Chorus.I

After the B Minor Mass in Chester Cathedral, I travelled down to Dartington in Devon with the Bassoon section, who were (as luck would have it) doing the same concerts as me this weekend.Dartington is a very familiar and special venue - I spent many summers there at the International Summer School at Dartington Hall, near Totnes in Devon. The hall itself is picturesque and it feels tranquil, with its

The first of two B Minor Masses this weekend took place in Chester Cathedral. I had organised a lift from London with the Bassoon section, who were doing the same two concerts as I was this weekend. They were fantastic company and the travel time flew by.I had never been to Chester before. I was impressed with the upmarket centre of Chester, with ancient buildings, Roman gates and old two-layered shopping

Trebles and Altos from the Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School joined the Westminster Cathedral Choir for a performance of J S Bach's B Minor Mass in Westminster Cathedral. Martin Baker conducted the orchestra and choirs. Kirra Thomas led the orchestra.The audience filled Westminster Cathedral and there was an incredible sense of calm silence from the large audience, that remained throughout

I travelled to the Sage in Gateshead to take part in my first B Minor Mass of the year. I was playing second trumpet to Crispian Steele-Perkins, with George Parnaby on third trumpet. One of George's students, Adam Wood, was sitting in with the section in the rehearsal to experience what it is like to be in a natural trumpet section. He will be going to the Royal College of Music in September.This was

On Saturday, I revisited the conservatoire where I studied for my undergraduate degree - the Royal Northern College of Music, in Manchester. This time I was there to perform in the newly-refurbished concert hall as the leader of a section of three natural trumpets (myself, Will Russell and Gareth Hoddinott). We played Bach’s Magnificat in D with Manchester Baroque.With all three trumpet players travelling

It was great to spend New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Saarbrücken in Germany for a concert of music by Bach and Telemann. The concert was given by the French group Le Concert Lorrain. The section of three natural trumpets and timpani included myself on first trumpet, William Russell on 2nd and Olivier Picon on 3rd, with Frithjof Koch on Timpani. We played music intended for the New Year, including

I visited Bad Gandersheim in Germany to play first trumpet in Bach's Christmas Oratorio. I played this concert with the Gottingen Baroque Orchestra, led by the violinist, Henning Vater.Bad Gandersheim is a small town, about an hour's drive south of Hanover. I arrived in Hanover after a very early flight from London Heathrow. I had time to explore Hanover before being picked up outside Hanover Hauptbahnhof

St. Mary-at-Hill is a delightful church in the heart of London. I have been here several times, for rehearsals and recordings but I had never done a performance there before. I had been invited by the Director of Music and Organist Martin Knizia to play Bach's Jauchzett Gott in Allen Landen BWV 51, with the soprano Emily Atkinson.This concert wasn't in fact a concert at all, it was an evening service,

I was invited to play Bach's Jauchzett Gott In Allen Landen (BWV 51) in Katowice in Poland. I had never been to Katowice before and I was scheduled to be in Wrocław the preceding day, so it fitted perfectly into my schedule.Upon my arrival to Katowice, I was welcomed by a lady who showed me the way to the hotel. At first we struggled to find a way through the major building works going on

On Saturday 19th of July 2014, I travelled to Sowerby, near Thirsk in North Yorkshire, to play for 'Sowerby Music' with the ensemble 'Passacaglia'.The London-based ensemble gave the final concert of the season for Sowerby Music. The organisers described the event as "an unashamedly celebratory concert", which combined a birthday celebration of one of the organisers and the remarkable milestone of Sowerby

Ars Eloquentiae, meaning 'the Art of Eloquence', is a young and lively ensemble, specialising in period instrument performance. It is so great to work with people of my generation. I know people in this group from a range of place such as: the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal College of Music. There are also several players I know from attending Dartington Summer School and others I know

The Stadtkirche St. Peter and Paul in Weimar (also known as the Herderkirche) was the setting for the Bachfest Weimar, 2014. I was invited to play first trumpet with Cantus Thüringia, in a concert on Friday the 2nd of May, under the direction of Bernhard Klapprott. Together we gave performances of J.S Bach's "Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis" (BWV 21) and C.P.E. Bach's "Ich will dem Herrn lobsingen" (H821b),

Russell performed works by Handel and Bach at Hampton Court Palace on the 28th of June 2013. He was privileged to perform with Crispian Steele-Perkins and William Russell.(L-R) Russell Gilmour, William Russell & Crispian Steele-Perkins

Dear all,I will be performing Bach's Second Brandenburg Concerto on the Natural Trumpet on Friday 24th of June at 19:30 in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall at the Royal College of Music (RCM).Ashley Solomon and the RCM Historical Performance department will be joined by Neal Peres Da Costa and students from the Sydney Conservatorium to give a varied programme of music by Bach, Handel (Concerto