Beth, the leader of our Adult Training Band, started her musical journey at the age of six in the West Midlands where she was a member of Sandwell Youth Music, gaining a place at the Royal Northern College of Music where she graduated in 2012. Beth took advantage of all the opportunities on offer at the college and played in a variety of ensembles gaining places on many orchestral courses and schemes including a weeks tour with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and a week away for the London Symphony Orchestra Academy.
While at the college Beth made her professional debut with the Halle Orchestra and went on to become a busy freelancer working regularly with Manchester Camerata, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and the orchestra of Opera North. As well as Orchestral performance, Beth was a regular deputy with the areas top bands and particularly enjoyed performing with Fodens and Brighouse and Rastrick.
Beth has since worked with most of the UK orchestras including the orchestra of the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, BBC Symphony, City of Birmingham, London Philharmonic, BBC Scottish, Welsh National Opera and the Royal Northern Sinfonia. Beth is also a specialist on doubling instruments and is in regular demand as an alto trombone, Euphonium and Bass Trumpet player.
Chamber music is also a big part of Beth’s musical career. She formed her own brass quartet which took part in a UK cathedral tour, as well as winning the Philip Jones prize with her quintet. Beth has also been invited on several occasions to play with the world famous ‘Bones Apart’ trombone quartet.
Having performed in some of the greatest concert halls in the UK with the various orchestras; her favourite being the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms, she has also had the pleasure of taking the stage with various pop groups on tour in the large arenas dotted around the country, including London’s O2 Arena with Il Divo and the Led Zeppelin Masters.
Since moving to London in 2016, Beth has worked in the West End on American in Paris and Regents Park Open Air Theatre production of Carousel. She was an associate member of the orchestra for the 2016/17 West End show Half a Sixpence and appeared on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company for their performance of Titus Andronicus at the Barbican Theatre. She has also worked on TV sets and was most recently involved in the Russian orchestra scene for series 5 of The Crown.
As an educationalist Beth has always taken the opportunity to pass on her knowledge and experience and is currently the lower brass teacher at Wetherby Senior School in Marylebone and Channing High School for girls in Highgate. She also has a busy schedule tutoring students at her home studio. She has been a tutor on the Halle education project working with children from all ages, abilities and backgrounds and was trombone tutor for the BBC Symphony Youth Orchestra 2018.
When Beth graduated from the RNCM, she was approached by the British Trombone Society to provide a lecture on ‘freelancing’ and ‘the role of the second trombone player’. Her lecture took place at Cheetham’s School of Music and was fully attended by adults, as well grade 6 and above students.
Beth has been fortunate to lead groups and workshops on many residential courses, including trips to Thailand, Japan and Vietnam. On these courses she was able to fulfil the role of a tutor, conductor and a team leader which she enjoyed thoroughly.
Beth lives in Aylesbury with her partner Jon, and two boys Arthur and Bradley.
