About Me
I am a Manchester-based oboist in the early stages of my career, currently looking to involve myself with chamber and large-scale orchestral music, especially Romantic and Classical repertoire. I have a keen interest in moving into opera and ballet.
I have just completed an Advanced Postgraduate Performance Diploma at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), having received a full scholarship for my studies from the support of the Oglesby Charitable Trust and will be graduating at the end of the year. I recently completed my Master of Arts degree in Historically Informed Performance Practice at the University of York.
My recent work has included projects with the RNCM symphony, chamber, and wind orchestras, as well as concerts and outreach with the Symphonia Verbum Orchestra. I am currently studying under Stephane Rancourt (Hallé), having previously studied with Hugh McKenna, Jonathan Small, Catherine Lowe and Fraser MacCauley.
In addition to my work as an oboist, I have been conducting research into historically informed performance theory and 19th century aesthetics for the past four years, as well as being a freelance neo- classical composer.
Orchestral Experience
Symphonia Verbum Orchestra: September 2023 – February 2024. Freelance work including concerts and outreach projects in schools, both on first and second oboe.
RNCM wind orchestra leader: November 2023. Principal oboist and leader of the ensemble. Conducted by Mark Heron.
RNCM Symphony Orchestra: October 2023. Conducted by Clark Rundell.
University of York Symphony Orchestra principal oboe: 2019 – 2023. Conducted by John Stringer, repertoire has included Debussy, Rachmaninov and Elgar amongst other works, as well as two large-scale performances in the York Minster.
University of York new production of “Antigone”, composer and first oboe: September to November 2021. This involved composing an orchestral and choral work for the show.
University of York Opera society band work, first oboe and cor anglais: January 2020. A double bill of Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti and Lennox Berkeley’s A Dinner Engagement.
Chamber Orchestral Experience
RNCM chamber orchestra principal oboe: May – June 2023. Conducted by David Hill.
Marsays Quintet: November 2023 – present. A new quintet formed of RNCM students.
York Festival of Early Music: July 2022, July 2023. Several performances in the National Centre for Early Music with the University of York Baroque ensemble, including concerto repertoire.
University of York Baroque Ensemble principal oboe: 2019 – 2023. Directed by Lucy Russell. Repertoire included Fasch, Handel and Quantz among many others as well as several pieces of concerto repertoire.
University of York Chimera Ensemble: 2019 – 2023. The UK’s largest student-run contemporary music ensemble. This has included repertoire by Rebecca Saunders and David Lumsdane.
Solo experience
Regular recitals: May 2022 - present.
York Festival of Early Music: July 2022, July 2023. Several performances in the National Centre for Early Music with the University of York Baroque ensemble, including concerto repertoire.
Southbank Sinfonia concerto: 2014.
Arts Administration Experience
The Grange Festival, administrative work and backstage runner: July 2017. Working under Michael Chance and Michael Moody in an office environment, helping with creative research, as well as working backstage as a runner before the shows.
Vasari Singers seasonal work: 2015 – present. .
Qualifications / Awards
Full scholarship to study an Advanced PgDip at the RNCM, financially supported by the Oglesby Charitable Trust. 2023
Distinction degree classification in a performance-based Master of Arts and a 1st class final recital. 2023
Final undergraduate extended recital: 1st class mark. 2022
Winner of the University of York David Blake Orchestral Prize. 2022
Oboe ATCL diploma: distinction. 2019
Piano grade 8: distinction. 2018
Rotary young musician of the year, 2014: Wandsworth, 2017: Hampshire.
Education
Royal Northern College of Music
Advanced postgraduate degree in Performance. September 2023 – July 2024
University of York
Master of Arts, degree in Historically Informed Performance Practice: Distinction (1st class). 2022- 2023.
Bachelor of Arts in Music: 2:1. 2019-2022.