GERMANY, 1986-2005

I grew up in Nordrhein-Westfalia, in Dortmund and Mönchengladbach.

My father taught at a British school on a NATO base, which also housed the excellent "Rheindahlen Music Center" where I learnt my musical foundations.

2003: Receiving the "Ian Smith Award for Musical Ability" from the serving General.

The "Rheindahlen Music Center" (Mönchengladbach Germany)

Taken during one of the weekly Saturday morning rehearsals for the CD cover.
An ambitious project, to showcase the quality of education during the last golden years on the base. You can find it on Youtube.

Military Service (Düsseldorf)

I was one of the last generations required to do military service.
Luckily, I was able to stay focussed on the trombone in the "Heeresmusikkorps 7" in Düsseldorf.

This was a pivotal time where I found my center and moved down to the Bass Trombone!

Horn 2005-2011: Shires, 10.5" gold brass bell.
Rich, beautifully sonorous sound. Very heavy and hard work in the high register. Boy could it project though!

A workshop with the legendary Peter Herbolzheimer.
As fate would have it, some of my later mentors (Bart and Erik van Lier, Jiggs Whigham) had performed with his famous Big Band "Rhythm Combination & Brass"

LONDON, 2005-2006

I continued my studies at "Royal Holloway, University of London."

Although very academic, we were able to tap into the vibrant world stage that London has to offer. I had lessons with many prominent teachers, until settling with Robert (Bob) Hughes at the Royal Academy of Music.

Graduation at Royal Holloway.
I got top grade with a "First Class Degree", a rare feat in a prestigious Music Department.

In my second year I pounced on the opportunity to study abroad.
Fate took me to Ottawa, Canada, where I was blessed to received tuition from Douglas Burden.

Doug was part of an important lineage in North American Brass pedagogy. He had had lessons with the legendary Arnold Jacobs and Ed Kleinhammer in Chicago, as well as Emory Remington at the Eastman School of Music.

This was where I incorporated "SONG AND WIND" - the central concept of Arnold Jacobs' teaching philosophy.

Mouthpiece: Yamaha "Doug Yeo" model.
Doug recommended this huge model, to help me open up the contra register.
Back in London I had to downsize again!

On stage with Douglas Burden at NACO, the "National Arts Center Orchestra" in Ottawa.
We were about to perform Faure's Requiem under the baton of Pinchas Zukerman - a moving experience. I was singing Bass in the Chorus.

With Canadian Brass

CANADA, 2006-2007

LONDON, 2007-2009

Armed with a better technique and newfound confidence, I returned to London to finish my Bacherlor's degree.

The highlights in these years were:

• Performing a concerto with Orchestra

• Winning the nationwide audition for the Young Musician's Symphony Orchestra

• Witnessing world class performances from the LSO, Philharmonia and LPO.

• Receiving the highest grade, a "First Class" Degree from Royal Holloway.
  

Breakthrough: winning the Concerto Competition in 2008, and performing the Lebedev "Concerto No.1" under the baton of Lev Parikian.
What a nail-biting, but incredible experience!

Where to go now?

I applied for Master's positions and received scholarships at three major institutions:
The Royal Academy, the Royal College and the Royal Northern College of Music.

It was in these years that I became fascinated with the recordings of the dutch master Ben van Dijk. He was emerging as my main hero on the instrument, and I had met him a few times for lessons.

After visiting the trombone festival "Slide Factory" in Rotterdam, I became very impressed with the high level trombone culture in the Conservatory.

I'll never forget the day where I had to turn down the Royal Academy with a difficult phone call with my current teacher Bob Hughes. He had given me a very solid basis, in the "focussed" London Trombone sound, but my heart lay with Ben and Rotterdam.

A difficult decision in 2009: turning down a Masters position at the Royal Academy.

Bass Trombone Class of 2010-2011, Rotterdam.

Learning from the best: with Ben van Dijk at a brass summer camp in Cocentaina, Spain. This experience ultimately convinced me that I had to study further with Ben!

ROTTERDAM, 2009-2011

After a fantastic year with Ben van Dijk, I broadened my stylistic possibilities and began a second Bachelor's of Jazz Bass Trombone.

My main teachers were Martin van den Berg and Erik van Lier. I also learnt the Tuba as a second study with Jan Hendrik-Jenes of the Rotterdam Philharmonic.

In a dramatic coup d'etat, the entire classical trombone department left Rotterdam in 2011, starting the next Academic year in Amsterdam. I joined them!

Martin van den Berg taught me essential stylistic differences in Jazz and modern styles: specifically shaping notes, and ending notes, which was rarely talked about in the Classical Departments.

Erik van Lier was a wonderful mentor on the spiritual, philosophical level. He inspired me with relaxation techniques such as Yoga and Feldenkrais, ultimately being the main factor in helping me recover from a sustained injury period.

HORNS:
Kühnl & Hoyer – loaned from the Metropole Orchestra.
A colorful sound, but I had to work too hard to get the power I needed.
Yamaha 613H – a very open bass trombone, especially in the valve register.

Highlights here were:

• Professional debuts with the Metropole Orchestra & Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw

• Learning the foundations of Jazz Improvisation and playing by ear.

Live performance with the Metropole Orchestra.

AMSTERDAM, 2011-2013

GERMANY, 2013-

I returned to Mönchengladbach, Germany to continue my career.

Highlights have included:

• Building a wonderful private teaching studio

• Training and experience as a conductor

• Learning and loving the Euphonium

• Leading the Posaunenchor Mönchengladbach-Korschenbroich for seven years, including bringing the youth training programme to life.

• Four years teaching at the state music school Clara-Schumann-Musikschule, Düsseldorf

• Specialising in Brass Ensembles, notably forming "ROLLING THUNDER BRASS", a flexible cross-genre ensemble. See www.rollingthunderbrass.de

• Going large in 2025: expanding the group to a 10-piece "XXL" Formation (first Concert in 2026)

HORNS:
Both Kanstul models are copies of classic Conn designs and feature tuning in the slide (TIS – Tuning in Slide).

• Kanstul 1662: A vibrant, golden sound across all registers.

• Kanstul 1670: The "George Roberts" model – incredible projection and a strong, focused core. My personal favourite to play.

• Yamaha 612: 10" bell. Very easy to play, with a rich tone, though a bit too brassy in fortissimo.