What is your favourite Septura piece to play?

The Prokofiev suite of four Pieces for Piano, Op. 12, is really fun to perform. Simon’s arrangement is a brilliant advert for the brass septet medium; Prokofiev’s variance of moods & character are enhanced greatly by the kaleidoscopic range of colours offered by the seven brass instruments. Compared to the original version for piano it’s like switching from an old black-and-white TV to the latest brand new High-Definition model.

I’m also a big fan of the suite from J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. Again, it’s a pleasure to perform and a fantastic arrangement by Matt.

What would you do if you weren’t a bass trombone player?

When I was in school I looked into becoming a sports journalist, and back then I liked to dream that I could have become a play-by-play commentator for my hometown ice hockey team, the Calgary Flames. I was advised that it was quite a difficult industry to break into and would require years of study, auditioning and freelance work before finding lucrative employment – so I became a musician instead!

Your favourite Septura moment?

Performing Shostakovich’s 8th String Quartet in the beautiful church in Lieksa, Finland this past summer was incredibly rewarding, and the reaction we invoked from the audience was something I will remember for a long time. Nearly as memorable as the late-night swim in the chilly lake nearby…