cb6681@hotmail.com 07771393751

Photograph by Pete Beck

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, in adulthood kind men offered me free formative lessons. Charles Few of the Chicago school was a pupil of the legendary Cichowicz, and Georges Frans is a Paris Conservatoire medallist. Masterclasses followed much later with Reinhold Friedrich, Chris Martin and James Watson. I was priveleged to perform alongside Dr Renold Schilke, Robert Jenner, John Wilbraham, Eddie Calvert and David Mason.

REPERTOIRE

I am experienced in the standard orchestral repertoire as well as the high baroque repertoire. 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 The Sampson Orchestra (Cambridge), and 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 ( * 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…