Photograph by Pete Beck

I’m currently living and playing in the UK, with performance 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 and architecture of trumpets. I also play the corno da caccia, natural trumpet, cornett, cornet and flugelhorn.

Initially self-taught, in adulthood kind men offered me free formative lessons. Charles Few had come through the Chicago school as a pupil of the legendary Cichowicz and after 50 years is still a friend and mentor; Georges Frans of the French school was a Paris Conservatoire medallist; and Sean Kierman, a hornist and pedagogue, was profoundly influential. Masterclasses followed much later with Reinhold Friedrich, Chris Martin and James Watson. En route I was fortunate to perform alongside Dr Renold Schilke, Robert Jenner, John Wilbraham, Eddie Calvert and David Mason.

REPERTOIRE

I am experienced on much of the standard orchestral repertoire – including Bartok, Beethoven, Dvorak, Mahler, Strauss, and Sibelius – as well as the high baroque repertoire of Bach’s B Min Mass, Christmas Oratorio and the Second Brandenburg Concerto.

My solo and recital repertoire includes the Haydn Trumpet Concerto, Copland’s Quiet City, Purcell’s Suite for Trumpet and works by Handel, Boyce, Torelli and Telemann.

CURRENTLY . . . . . . . . . .

I am principal in the Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra, in The Sampson Orchestra (Cambridge), and when I can in the East Anglia Chamber Orchestra, having previously held principal positions in the Bath Symphony Orchestra (1980-2019) and in the Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra (2006-2021).

PREVIOUSLY . . . . . . . . . .

ENGLAND ( underlining 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 Jewish 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…