At Sidcot, we are incredibly fortunate to have such a talented and experienced team of music teachers. Together, they bring a remarkable range of professional performing, teaching, and musical experience to the School, covering a wide variety of instruments, styles, and traditions.
In our Meet the Music Teacher series, we take the opportunity to introduce some of the musicians who inspire and support our students every week. This week, we meet one of our trombone and drum teachers and discover how Jon went from studying music at Trinity College of Music, London, to playing in West End orchestras (at sea!)
Jon is a passionate musician who started playing Trombone at the age of eight. He now plays Alto, Tenor and Bass Trombones, as well as the Flugabone and Euphonium. He also plays and teaches Drum Kit and Timpani.
Jon attended Trinity College of Music, in London, gaining a Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Performance, specialising in period performance on the Renaissance Trombone (called a Sackbut). He was also a recipient of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble prize, adjudicated and awarded by Philip Jones.
In 1999, following his professional studies, Jon joined Royal Caribbean Cruise Line playing Trombone as part of the ship’s Orchestra. He was promoted to Musical Director/Trombone in 2001 while onboard Voyager of the Seas.
In 2009, after a successful period as Musical Director on Freedom of the Seas, Jon was invited to join the start-up team (as Musical Director) to launch the Oasis of the Seas, which, at the time of her maiden voyage, was the largest cruise ship in the world, and debuted the first West End production at sea, ‘Hairspray’.
Since returning to the UK in 2010, Jon has been working with various orchestras and Big Bands across the country, including notable performances with artists such as Bobby Shew (Trumpet), Pee Wee Ellis (Tenor Sax) and Fred Wesley (Trombone), both at the Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival and at London's famed Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.
Jon has backed numerous professional vocalists, including Clare Teal, Claire Martin, Tom Ford, and Joe Stilgoe, as well as acclaimed Jazz Pianist Jason Rebello. He has also performed with Anton De Beke and Erin Boag (Strictly Come Dancing) and worked with renowned Bristol Saxophonist and composer Andy Sheppard, performing his reworked live score to the cult-classic film Metropolis.
Jon can also be found sitting in various Orchestra Pits across the South West, playing for classic Operas, Gilbert & Sullivan Operettas as well as musicals from the ever-popular classics ‘Oklahoma!’ and ‘Chicago’ to the more modern musicals such as 'Sister Act', 'Kinky Boots' and 'Spamalot'.
Jon is passionate about Music education and is in demand as a Teacher (Trombone, Drum Kit and Orchestral Percussion). He is Musical Director for various youth music ensembles across the South West, and has taken several of these to perform at Birmingham Symphony Hall as part of the Music for Youth National Festival on numerous occasions, much to critical acclaim.
Writing and arranging music for various ensembles is also something that Jon enjoys doing. Most importantly, Jon enjoys spending time with Clare, his wife, Chumley (their Cockapoo), and their wider families.
If you would like to find out more about music lessons for your child, please contact Paul Woolley, Director of Music at paul.woolley@sidcot.org.uk.