A casual remark in the pub led to me joining the Band at the beginning of 2024, my first ever foray into the world of brass banding, which was a bit of a culture shock, having been in the CSM Jazz Band and Christchurch Youth Orchestra the last time I'd taken my trombone out of the case almost four decades ago!

At the age of nine, I began learning the piano, adding the viola and trombone later on, thanks to the itinerant music scheme at Aranui High School. I then completed a MusB degree at Canterbury University followed by Certificates in Radio Broadcasting at what is now Ara.

After heading north to Whangarei to work as a radio production engineer and announcer at KCC-FM, active music making fell by the wayside. It was only after a career pivot into info technology that I was inspired to take up the viola again while on a belated European OE (lasting 18 years). Although lacking a music department, the University of Leicester where I worked, had an incredibly vibrant and welcoming music culture that spilled over into the entire county.

Back in Aotearoa since 2020, I've been fortunate to find plenty of opportunities to continue making music. There's photographic evidence showing my paternal Grandfather actually played the trombone (and other low brass) in brass bands around a century ago, so I guess you can't fight genetics, the gene will out!

Pictured taking time out from mass destruction with my weapons of choice...a King Cleveland 605 (with F-valve) and my breitarschige Brücknerbratsche.