Paul's tune of the month
Paul is a multi faceted musician with over 30 years experience as a professional trumpet player, teacher, conductor, composer, songwriter, adjudicator and guest speaker. In 2009 he was awarded a Honorary Associate to The Royal Academy of Music for his services to the music profession.
For 30 years Paul held the post as Head of Brass at Wells Cathedral School one of the UK’s four specialist music schools inspiring and guiding then department to be highly regarded as one of the brass departments in the world. In his final 4 years at Wells he moved to the position of Head of Music Performance.
As a composer and writer Paul has built up an extensive catalogue of published original works, commissions and arrangements for brass, woodwind and percussion as well as four full length musicals and many original songs. His works have been performed all over Europe by professional ensembles and music conservatoires.
Paul has a keen interest as an adjudicator. His extensive list of appearances at the adjudicators table include: Royal Academy of Music London Junior Department, Royal Welsh College of Music,Trinity Laban College as well as many schools, county music competitions and festivals across the UK.
For over 30 years Paul was the conductor and artistic advisor for the Symphony Orchestra at Wells Cathedral School. As well as conducting performances Paul also prepared the orchestra for eminent internationally regarded guest conductors including Jac van Steen, Christopher Adey, Ben Glassberg, Peter Harrison and many others.
Paul was Principal Conductor of The School’s Philharmonic Orchestra. He also appeared as guest conductor for The Sani International Youth Orchestra based in Greece. More recently Paul has returned to his brass band roots with Phoenix Brass and Wells City Band as their musical director.
Paul has taken the musical director post on many youth music theatre productions as well as performing extensively in the theatre pit for professional music theatre productions across the South West. Paul also performs with the highly acclaimed function band DT8.
Paul is committed to bringing the enjoyment, comfort and the peace of mind of live music to those nearing the end of their lives by volunteering his musicals skills weekly in care homes. In particular he is passionate about bringing music to the very bedsides of those unable to leave their room or even their bed.
Paul’s only named charity for whom he raises both awareness and undertakes regular fundraising is I SEE YOU. I See You is a community fund that provides for the elderly in the care system who have no family or friends to visit or are on local authority funding and therefore have insufficient or no money to buy items such as clothing, toiletries, keep hair and nails tidy or even to buy a snug pair of slippers or shoes.