Information About Thomas - Brampton teacher

Personal Description:

Trained at Trinity College of Music, London where I studied french horn under John Burden, former principal horn with The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO). Also studied piano after achieving Grade VIII aged 17. In my final year, was principle horn of the college orchestra. After graduating and obtaining teacher qualifications, my first post was as a brass peripatetic tutor for the London Borough of Brent. Hear I taught all brass instruments but specialising in the french horn and had several students progress to London Colleges of music. Moved to Ireland in 2012 and played with The Cork Symphony Orchestra along with other local orchestras and was Director of Music at The Skibbereen Silver Band near to where I lived. Here I started a youth music programme that resulted in the creation of a junior band which now has over 20 young musicians. I also taught piano to Grade VIII

Tutoring Experience:

From Brent I moved into the classroom and was Director of Music at three secondary schools in London and Bristol. At Bristol I piloted a successful “Gifted and Talented” programme to promote young people who demonstrated exceptional musical promise. I have worked with professional musicians from LSO, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Welsh National Opera.
I am an experienced conductor working with amateur orchestras and brass bands in London, Gloucester and Bristol and now here in Hexham with programmes as diverse as Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra as well as symphonies and concertos by Mozart, Brahms and Beethoven. When living in West Cork, Ireland, I was appointed Musical Director of The Skibbereen Silver Band. Moved to Hexham in 2015 and now conduct the Hexham Brass Band and now teaching brass here.

Tutoring Approach:

My goal is always to achieve the correct balance of challenging my students while never losing sight of having fun playing in a relaxed atmosphere. I will draw on a wide repertoire and styles to ensure the student obtains a breadth of musical experience.