cb6681@hotmail.com 07771393751
I’m currently living and playing in the UK, with orchestral experience in England, Scotland, the USA and South Africa as a principal and recitalist, and in the high baroque repertoire. Published and ongoing research interests are in the performance, history, culture and architecture of trumpets. I also play the corno da caccia, natural trumpet, cornett, cornet and flugelhorn.
Initially self-taught, generous men offered me free formative lessons: Charles Few of the Chicago school was a pupil of Cichowicz, and Georges Frans was a Paris Conservatoire medallist and a pupil of Andre. Masterclasses followed much later with Reinhold Friedrich (Frankfurt), Chris Martin (Chicago and NY SO) and James Watson (London). I was also fortunate to perform alongside Dr Renold Schilke, Robert Jenner, John Wilbraham, Eddie Calvert and David Mason.
REPERTOIRE
I have long experience as a principal in the orchestral repertoire as well as the oratorio and high baroque repertoires, from Mozart and Verdi Requiems, to the B Minor Mass. My solo and recital repertoire includes the Haydn Trumpet Concerto, Copland’s Quiet City, Purcell’s Suite for Trumpet, works by Handel, Boyce, Torelli and Telemann, and the second Brandenburg Concerto.
CURRENTLY . . . . . . . . . .
I am principal in the The Sampson Orchestra (Cambridge), and in the East Anglia Chamber Orchestra, having previously held principal positions in the Bath Symphony Orchestra (1980-2019), the Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra (2006-2021)., and the Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra (2023-2025).
PREVIOUSLY . . . . . . . . . .
ENGLAND ( * indicates as principal trumpet or soloist) *Academy of St Mary Redcliffe, *Argyle Orchestra, *Bath Cantata Group, *Bath Symphony Orchestra, *Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra, *Bristol Chamber Orchestra, *Bristol Choral Society Orchestra, Bath Choral Society Orchestra, *Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra, *Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra, *Music for Architecture, *Musicians South West, *New Bristol Sinfonia, The Philharmonia of Bristol, *Sampson Orchestra (Cambridge), *St John’s Orchestra Bath
SCOTLAND *Edinburgh University Symphony Orchestra, *Scottish Brass Quintet, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, *Scottish Sinfonia
UNITED STATES American Dance Theatre Orchestra, Duke University Orchestra, *Elon Brass Quintet
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC (National) Symphony Orchestra, Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, *Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra, *National Youth Orchestra, *Port Elizabeth Municipal Orchestra, *University of Port Elizabeth Orchestra
Reviews
“Fabulous playing, beautiful sound.”
“…this remarkably gifted soloist… the assurance and skill of a seasoned musician…”
“…phenomenal talent…a smooth and silvery tone…phrasing was admirable…”
“The star turn of the evening was a scintillating performance of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto by Colin Bloch.”
“…there must be special mention of the purity of Colin Bloch’s obbligato…”
“…a fine clarion ring…a highly commendable obbligato…”
“Colin Bloch as a soloist can only be described in superlatives.”
“…a sweetness of tone on an instrument that in less capable hands can be more tormenting than pleasing…”
“…added dramatic sparkle…”