Biography
Born in Liverpool and then relocated with his family to the North East in 1986, the opportunity arose to learn the cornet at the age of nine, first through the peripatetic school services and then the Barnard Castle Youth and Senior bands. Playing alongside his Father on trombone gave John invaluable solo and small group experience performing on the North East music festival circuit. He progressed within the ranks of Durham Palatine and Regional bands, finally ending up as Principal Cornet with the Durham County Wind Ensemble.
John studied at The University of Huddersfield from receiving tuition from such leading musicians as Sandy Smith, Christopher Fox, John Bryan, Phillip McCann and Professor George Pratt.
John has been a member of Grimethorpe Colliery RJB, Brighouse & Rastrick, Whitburn and Hepworth Bands and has deputized with Black Dyke and Yorkshire Building Society bands amongst others. John has been involved in CD, BBC TV and radio broadcasts working with artists such as Lesley Garrett, Christian Lindberg, Elgar Howarth, Major Peter Parkes, Andreas Sporri, Peter Bassano, Bram Gay, Peter Robinson, Richard Edwards, John Barclay and Chris Batchelor and at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Queens Hall Edinburgh, Royal College of Music, Westminster Abbey, Regent Hall, BBC Wood Lane, BBC Manchester, Air Lyndhurst, Symphony Hall Birmingham and the Niedersachsische Musiktage, Lower Saxony.
March 2005 John was invited to substitute on First Horn with the Kellogg sponsored Brass Band of Battle Creek (Michigan, USA) for a major tour of Florida performing alongside artists including Jens Lindemann, Wycliffe Gordon, Steven Mead, Rex Richardson and Maurice Murphy and with conductors Mark Gould, Sarah Ioannides and Richard Evans. Fortunately they asked him back for similar engagements in 2007 and 2008!
2007 proved to be an interesting year out encompassing a months return visit to America undertaking invaluable tuition at the Virginia Commonwealth University with Rex Richardson, and the New England Conservatory from Rich Kelley (Boston Brass) and James Pandolfi (NY Met). Further notable engagements included a tour of Lillestrom, Norway, and a residence at The Stadium of Light for the University of Sunderland Graduation Ceremonies.
John is a member of 5play brass group, encompassing the Tenor and Flugelhorn roles with Mellophonium, Cornet and Trumpet when required. Recent musical highlights have included adjudication at St Joseph's Middle School (Hexham) Festival Day, theatre work including Into The Woods, Pirates of Penzance, Bugsy Malone and Fiddler on The Roof, concert performances at the Sage Gateshead, Matfen Hall, Dilston Hall (Samling Foundation) and Elvet Methodist Church Durham plus Sunderland University Graduation Ceremonies. Forthcoming work involves ongoing school projects, a Newcastle City Hall Olympic themed festival and a concert tour of Denmark. John is a Visiting Music Teacher for the Newcastle Music Service.