Keep Dreaming...
(Head of Brass and Percussion,
Royal Welsh College of Music Drama)
Royal Welsh College of Music Drama)
I was born in
New Zealand. I first saw a trombone when I was four, in a brass band. That was
the beginning of lifelong obsession. The only was problem was that my arms were
too short, so I learned the trumpet and hung from the cross-bar of my wardrobe,
hoping for gravity to solve the problem. Eventually, my arms grew and a
trombone arrived. I loved it.
For my 12th
birthday, I was given a record of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, called Easy
Winners. The first trombonist was called John Iveson and I had never heard
anything as beautiful. His playing sounded like gold. That was the beginning of
my second obsession; to travel to the UK and to learn from John. I worked in a
music shop, worked on a farm and did as many paid jobs as possible throughout
my school days in order to save for my big trip to the other side of the world.
Practice sessions always began at 7am and I tried to imagine that I was
training like an All Black, working towards a world cup. I worked through all
of my ABRSM grade exams and used some of my savings to order music and
recordings. None of my school teachers or friends really understood this total
obsession: why would anyone want to leave a gorgeous county like NZ and risk
everything on the other side of the world?
Music has made
my life into an adventure. I had no idea what would happen when I stepped onto
the plane, heading for London. John Iveson and I became good friends and his
teaching enabled me to take a step into the music profession in the UK. Along
the way, I have met so many of my musical heroes and have been introduced to an
incredible array of people who work in music. I met one of them yesterday. She
was visiting Cardiff to hear the BBC Young Musician competition at RWCMD. She
runs a famous music company that I have always used to buy my books and sheet
music. Her name is Rachel Emerson, from June Emerson Wind Music. You may have
heard of it…
Rachel and I have been in contact many times by email and through the music orders that are placed by RWCMD, but we had never met. Yesterday, we compared stories and soon realised that our lives have both been shaped by an obsessive love of music and of musicians and that we feel totally committed to supporting and nurturing the future of our art form.
Given that you
are reading this, I suspect that you feel the same as us. If so, my advice is
to totally dedicate yourself to music and try to regard your life as an
adventure, with music leading you along the way. You will meet incredible
people, hear amazing sounds and will never know what is around the corner. It
can be scary at times, but it’s always enormous fun…good luck!
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| Early inspiration from the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble quintet |
Despite my
mammoth efforts to save enough, the NZ dollar was very weak against the pound
and it seemed impossible to get enough money together in order to stay long
enough in the UK. I worked through my ABRSM grades and eventually sat my LRSM in
Auckland. The examiners asked me about my aspirations and when they heard my
story, they asked me to return the next day in order to record my recital
programme, which was sent to ABRSM in London. ABRSM wrote me a letter,
confirming three years of scholarship support to study in London. I still can’t
believe that happened! I flew to the UK with a suitcase and a trombone, knowing
only one person in the entire country. It’s now 27 years later and I am still
here, having spent time as Principal trombone of RLPO and now as Head of Brass
and Percussion at RWCMD. I can’t believe that either!
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| KP and the RWCMD Brass Ensemble in Llandaff Cathedral |
Rachel and I have been in contact many times by email and through the music orders that are placed by RWCMD, but we had never met. Yesterday, we compared stories and soon realised that our lives have both been shaped by an obsessive love of music and of musicians and that we feel totally committed to supporting and nurturing the future of our art form.
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