Over the years Will Russell (2nd trumpet) and I have been fortunate enough to come into the possession of several rare and unusual nineteenth-century brass instruments. We were delighted when Les Talens Lyriques invited us to join their recording project – Portrait de Pauline Viardot – as we do not often get the opportunity to play these instruments professionally. The programme featured music

While my B-flat trumpet lay dormant in the trumpet cupboard at home, its sound could be heard on BBC Radio 4's Easter Sunday service which aired on Sunday 12th April 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic has prevented any equivalent services from taking place this year. Andrew Earis (Director of Music at St. Martin-in-the-Fields) produced a BBC radio programme which featured some of the music from the 2013 service

I performed Haydn’s ‘Nelson Mass’ and Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ at St Mary’s Collegiate Church in the Old Square in Warwick on Saturday 11th of March 2017. Thomas Corns directed the Choirs of St Mary’s Collegiate Church and the period instrument orchestra, led by Lucy Russell. Imogen Russell (soprano) Judy Brown (mezzo-soprano) Matthew Sandy (tenor) Edmund Saddington (bass) For Mozarts

Trumpeters Russell Gilmour and William Russell travelled to Chichester on Saturday 5th November 2016, to be involved in a concert entitled ‘Gloria’, hosted by the choir 'Chichester Voices’ and their director Andrew Naylor. The all-Vivaldi programme was performed in St. George’s Church on Cleveland Road and featured Vivaldi’s: ‘Magnificat’, ‘Concerto for Two Trumpets in C Major’, ‘Beatus

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 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.

I played first trumpet in a performance of Handel's Messiah at St. John's Smith Square on Friday 5th of December 2014. The performance, given by Solomon's Knot was a refreshingly vibrant performance of this well-known work. The eight singers performed the entire piece from memory, which somehow gave the impression that the music was being spontaneously composed. The movements flowed seamlessly into

I made my debut with the Orchestra of the 18th Century on 'Tour 123'. The tour began on the 23rd of November 2014 and finished on the 3rd of December 2014. It included performances in Rotterdam (Holland), Roeselare (Belgium), Dublin (Ireland), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Amsterdam (Holland) and The Hague (Holland). It was a huge privilege to be asked to play with the Orchestra of the 18th Century

On Tuesday 4th of November 2014, I performed as an off-stage trumpeter with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in (or technically, just outside) the Royal Festival Hall in London. Sir Mark Elder conducted Donizetti's 'Les Martyrs', directing around 150 performers. My modest role involved playing a straight fanfare trumpet, which was provided for me by the orchestra. It had valves (which

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

I returned to Wrocław to make a CD recording with Andrzej Kosendiak's ensemble. We recorded more music by Gorczycki for Volume 2 of the National Forum of Music's Gorczycki series.  The music is just as stunning as the pieces we played in the first volume. This time we recorded three different pieces of music involving trumpets in three different keys: D, C and B-flat. These included:

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

On Wednesday 5th of June at 19:30, Russell Gilmour and David Kilgallon will be performing lively and traditional celtic music for trumpet and organ in St. Thomas' Church in Douglas. Admission is free, and there will be an opportunity to sponsor our upcoming CD recording project upon exit. A great way for visitors to the Island to hear some of our musical heritage!

I've now graduated from the Royal College of Music. I went to the graduation ceremony, walked across the stage wearing the gown and hood, listened to some speeches, picked up my certificate, raised a glass with my course-mates and chatted to all and sundry. One of my fellow graduates asked me, "so, what will you be doing now that you've finished?" My answer to myself was simple: I haven't finished

I have spent the last few days in Wrocław in Poland. A beautiful city, with lots going on. They are currently building a new home for the Philharmonic (which I am told will be the best acoustic of any concert hall in central Europe) and the Euro 2012 football trophy has been unveiled since we have been here. There is lots happening. Also, yesterday it was 25°C, which was an added bonus. We are here

English Slide Trumpet Presentation:The current form of the Presentation is changing. I'm getting rid of most of the text and just using the images as my impetus. I'm working on the basis that people will learn more with a clearer structure.Less is more.It's good to print it out and swap the pages around. Computers are good, but for certain things - they can sometimes be a barrier."The English Slide

This vintage Selmer "Manhattan" trumpet from the early 1920s has a remarkable history. It belonged to my great-uncle, Jim Vickers. Uncle Jim played this trumpet all over the world and even in a performance for the King of Iraq - with the Royal Signals. The instrument is what we would now call a 'small bore' trumpet. I used to think that it was the early 1920s recording techniques that were responsible

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,

I recently enjoyed a trip to Brixen, Italy where I performed Mozart’s C Minor Mass and “Jupiter” Symphony with Musica Saeculorum - under the direction of Philipp von Steinaecker. It was a beautiful and fascinating place - which made for a wonderful tour.The music was excellent and it was brilliant to meet and hear so many fabulous musicians from all over Europe.It was also enjoyable to visit