Solid Brass - Members Bios

Members

Simon Gray began playing the trumpet at age 8 and pursued a musical career for many years until discovering a talent for lighting design. In 1998 Simon followed a BA (Hons) degree course in Stage Management at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. After graduating in 2001 Simon went on to work for an Audio Visual company in Cardiff for 3 years. Due to deciding to pursue a musical career, in September 2004 Simon returned to the Royal Welsh College to follow a Post Graduate Diploma in music. Simon studied Trumpet under Andrew Stone-Fewings and also had tuition from Crispian Steele-Perkins and James Watson and studied Natural trumpet with Steven Keavy.

After Graduating Simon worked as a Freelance Trumpeter and in December 2006 Simon Joined Cardiff and the Vale Music Service Ltd as a peripatetic brass teacher. As of Janurary 2008 Simon took up the full time post of peripatetic brass teacher for Bridgend County Borough Council. Simon can be heard on Radio and Tv recordings including the theme tune to the radio play, 'Those Who Cant' for BBC Radio.

Simon is or has been a member of Rhondda Symphony Orchestra, Lewis Merthyr Brass Band, A470s Big band, Rhondda Big Band and many other ensembles throughout Wales.

Simon also runs the Blackhawk Big Band

Elizabeth Duckworth - Trumpet

Huw Miles - Horn

Huw's musical life satrted at age 7 when he began playing the piano and then the trumpet 9 years later. The Horn became his principle instrument during his first year in comprehensive scool.

In 2003 Huw followed an enginneering foundation course across the border in the University of the West of England, Bristol, where he won a music scholarship.

2004 saw Huw move back to the greener grass of lucious Wales where he began working as an Audio Visual Technician in an audio visual company in Cardiff.

Moving now from the darkness of the techie's back room, he is persuing a BA in secondary education specialising in music. During Huw's Spare time he is a

dedicated member of the quintet and a number of local ensemles.

David Blott - Trombone

David Lockley - Trombone / Bass Trombone

David graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2003 with a Bmus (Hons) degree and returned a year later to continue his studies in performance with Christian Jones (Bass Trombone) and received a PGDip (performance). He then went on to study for his PGCE at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff. David is currently Head of Music at St. Ilan School, Caerphilly, but has recently been offered another job as Head of Music in Heolddu Comprehensive School, and will take up his new post in April 2006.

Although David is fully committed to his teaching duties, he is still in demand as a performer and performs regularly with various semi-professional and amateur ensembles throughout the principality.

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