Ian Crew

​Born in deepest Birmingham in 1969, Ian began piano lessons at primary school and started composing when he found that obsessively hammered-out parallel minor 9ths were far more exciting than 'Hours With The Masters'.

He took up the bassoon at secondary school, mainly because the music department already had enough oboists and cellists, and there was a spare instrument festering in the cupboard at the time. He also produced several theatre scores and an orchestral piece before going on to university. He studied composition at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester under Anthony Gilbert. At the RNCM he wrote a number of choral, chamber and orchestral works, one of which was commissioned and televised by Granada Television for their "19-25" arts festival in 1991. Ian graduated with first class honours in Composition, and a Diploma in Composition and Professional Performance, winning the RNCM's prize for composition and earning a performance of his orchestral triptych "Engravings of Loudun" by the RNCM Orchestra under Sachio Fujioka.

As a show MD and accompanist, he works with many amateur theatre groups, choirs and stage schools. Recent works include 'Merlin's Apprentice', a new piece of musical theatre; 'Stories of Cornwall & Elsewhere' for 3 strong orchestras and Taiko drums (later expanded for full orchestra); and ‘Spiders in Motion’, an extensive four-movement work for 8 solo voices about animals, the weather and mortality. The first performance of this work was given by Voces Sacrae in L'Église de la Cité, Périgueux, France.

He is delighted to be associated with Bones Apart, and has found the medium of the trombone quartet quite the liberating compositional proposition. As a result, he will probably scotch the whole ocarina thing in favour of further serious writing for four 'bones.

Robert Holliday

Robert is Sub-Principal Trombone with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and trombone tutor at both the Royal College of Music and Royal Northern College of Music. He has held positions with the BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras, as well as working as a guest player with orchestras throughout the UK and Europe.

He has performed with chamber ensembles and as a soloist on many occasions - he gave the world premiere of a concerto written for him by Ivor Hodgson, a piece which he then performed with the BBC Philharmonic and at the RNCM Festival of Brass with the college's brass band. 

Robert has given classes and sat on examination panels at institutions such as Chetham's School of Music, University of Huddersfield, RNCM, RCM, Trinity Laban, University of Manchester and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Robert hopes to build his catalogue of trombone and brass ensemble pieces over the next few years, with more publications being available through Bones Apart Publishing.

Rob's bestselling arrangements: Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition and Schumann Träumerei.

Ryan Hume

Ryan began learning the trombone aged 12 whilst at school in Horsham, West Sussex. After graduating from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance under the professorship of Graham Lee, he was awarded a full ABRSM scholarship to study​ at the Royal College of Music with Byron Fulcher and Lindsay Shilling.

Since graduating, Ryan has enjoyed a varied career as a trombonist, performing with many of the UK's leading orchestras and ensembles and in various West End theatre productions. He is also a member of the London-based new music ensemble CHROMA.

In addition to his performing experience, Ryan has also enjoyed regularly composing and arranging music; recent highlights include Antibiosis dedicated the Royal College of Music Trombone Ensemble and arrangements for Bones Apart Publishing, Superbrass Music and CHROMA Ensemble. His first explorations into composing came whilst at school as a guitarist in a heavy metal band he formed with his friends, who were once described by the local newspaper in performance as "raucous, testosterone fuelled mayhem". Whilst studying at music college he composed and arranged a variety of works, including Entries from the Somme for Westcombe Brass Quintet to mark the centenary of World War I, and Metamorphosis for trombone and brass quintet which Ryan performed in his final recital.

Dan Jenkins

Dan Jenkins has been writing music for as long as he can remember. He is not only Principal Trombone of the City of London Sinfonia and Sub-Principal Trombone of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, but a prolific composer and arranger. His Trumpet Concerto (2009) was commissioned and premiered by the City of London Sinfonia, with Nick Betts as the soloist. In 2009 he won an award for his 'Fantasia for Solo Trombone' written as an homage to Malcolm Arnold and dedicated to Ian Bousfield. He has also composed a solo work for Byron Fulcher, Principal Trombone of the Philharmonia Orchestra. 

In October 2015 his orchestral work 'SR1' was premiered by the BBC Symphony Orchestra at Maida Vale Studios in London. 

Among his extensive catalogue of compositions and arrangements for brass are two pieces for Bones Apart - 'Senoras' (2010) and 'Scenes from Sherwood' (2012), as well as 'Mnemonyx' (2012) for Onyx Brass Quintet. Many of his compositions and arrangements are published by BrassWorks and Warwick Music.

For more about Dan and his compositions please visit www.danjenkinsmusic.co.uk

Dan's bestselling pieces: Cold Tea, Toast and Marmalade and 24 New Chorales

Lorna McDonald

Lorna began playing the trombone aged 10 whilst at school in Paisley, near Glasgow. In 1990 she commenced studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama under the tutelage of the late Ian Murray, Chris Stearn, Lance Green and Sue Addison, graduating in 1996 with Master of Music and Bachelor of Art degrees. 

During her time at the RSAMD, Lorna developed a keen interest in Chamber Music and Early Music, twice winning the Governors Recital Prize for Chamber Music on both bass trombone and bass sackbut. It was whilst at college that she became a founder member of Worldbrass, a German based 10-piece brass ensemble, and of His Ain Draucht Trumpets along with trombonist John Kenny. 

Now enjoying a varied freelance career, she has played in orchestras ranging from the BBC Symphony, Scottish Opera to Syd Lawrence, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and the West End production of The Sound of Music. She has appeared alongside jazz and pop musicians including Claire Martin, Monty Alexander, Bobby McFerrin and Bjork and made numerous recordings, from orchestral music to free jazz with Tom Bancroft, folk music with Eliza Carthy and world music with Nitin Sawhney.

Lorna is an accomplished arranger for trombone, brass, wind and jazz ensembles. When she isn't playing the trombone she enjoys travel, film, haute cuisine, fine wine and serenading her neighbours during tuba practice.

Lorna's bestselling arrangements: Abreu Tico Tico, Gershwin Three Preludes and Grieg In the Hall of the Mountain King

Jayne Murrill

Jayne began playing the euphonium at the age of 9 whilst at school in Newham, East London and soon after joined the National Youth Brass Band quickly progressing onto principal euphonium. She moved onto trombone aged 16 and in 1991 entered the Royal College of Music studying with Peter Bassano and Lindsay Shilling. Whilst at college Jayne was the recipient of several awards including the Countess of Munster Trust and the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother Award before graduating in 1996 with a BMus degree and an ARCM diploma.

She has enjoyed a successful freelance career working with many of the major UK orchestras including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. She has also worked with a number of chamber ensembles including LadyBones and the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble.

When not playing the trombone Jayne is much in demand as a brass band conductor and trainer. She is Musical Director of East London Brass and has coached the trombone section for the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and the National Children's Brass Band. 

Jayne's bestselling arrangement: Leontovych Carol of the Bells

Becky Smith

Becky is Principal Trombone of the English National Opera, and previously held the position of Sub-Principal Trombone of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Born in Cambridge in 1979, Becky studied the trombone with Christopher Mowat, and euphonium with John Clark at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama from the age of 12 to 18. During this time she was also a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

In 1998 Becky gained a scholarship for a place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and whilst studying there won the 2002 Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition Brass Prize, the Leggett Award, Terence Nagle Award and the Harry Mortimer Award. Becky is a founder member of Bones Apart.

She enjoys a busy freelance career performing with many of the UK's orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Philharmonia, City of London Sinfonia, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Sinfonia of London and all the BBC Orchestras.

Becky has given masterclasses, coached the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and adjudicated the final of the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Award and the Help Musicians Awards. Becky is professor of trombone at the Royal College of Music in London.

Becky's bestselling arrangement: Three Traditional Carols

Helen Vollam

Helen is Principal Trombone of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. She is a regular guest principal with the Britten Sinfonia, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Royal Northern Sinfonia and has worked with many of the UK's symphony and opera orchestras.

She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London with Eric Crees. During this time she was Principal Trombone of the European Union Youth Orchestra and won the Bronze Medal in the Shell/LSO Music Scholarship. In 2003 she won the Woodwind & Brass Award and Philip Jones Memorial Prize in the Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition.

Helen has given classes at the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Royal College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She has adjudicated for the BBC Young Musician Competition, Royal Over-Seas League, British Trombone Society and International Trombone Association competitions. Helen has played on many TV and film soundtrack recordings.

Andy Wareham

Andy Wareham (b.1994) is a young composer hailing from Southampton, England. He was taught from a young age by Lesley Milam and his compositions have been featured on BBC Radio and Television. He has won a number of awards for his music including the Vivendi Composition Award, Best Student Composition at the 2016 University Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, The Cory Band Composition Competition 2017 and A4 Brass Quartet’s Compeosition Competition 2019. His Fanfare and Three Poems for trombone quartet and drum kit won the 2020 British Trombone Society Composition Competition.

Andy currently holds a position as ‘Young Composer in Residence’ with the world famous Black Dyke Band. As part of the residency he is working under the guidance of Black Dyke’s Composer in Association, Professor Philip Wilby.

After graduating from Cardiff University with a BMus (Hons), Andy went on to study for a Masters at the RWCMD. He was accepted as the RWCMD’s first Brass Band Conducting student and studied under the guidance of Dr Robdert Childs. Following two years of conducting the RWCMD Brass Band he graduated in July 2018 and directed the band one final time at his own graduation ceremony.

Fanfare and Three Poems for trombone quartet and drum kit

To find out more visit www.andywareham.com

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Sarah Williams​​

Sarah enjoys a busy and varied freelance career, working in both the orchestral and jazz scenes. As well as working with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra and BBC Concert Orchestra, she has played in a huge variety of West End shows including Crazy For You, Phantom of the Opera, Guys and Dolls, Les Miserables and Oliver. Sarah has collaborated with many artists across the jazz and pop world such as Kenny Wheeler, Stan Sulzman, Tony Bennett, Jamie Cullum, Tom Jones, Lulu and Dannii Minogue.

Sarah was born in Wigton, Cumbria and whilst at school studied trombone with Andy Berryman and was a member of the Northern Junior Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Youth Brass Band. She studied at Hull University and went on to gain a place on the postgraduate course at the Royal Academy of Music receiving bass trombone tuition from Bob Hughes. She was a member of the Schleswig-Holstein Jugendorchester and the trombone quartet LadyBones. Sarah joined Bones Apart in 2014.

Duncan Wilson

Duncan Wilson studied trombone and euphonium at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 1997. It was during his studies that he developed an interest in composing and arranging for brass. Encouraged by his tutors, Duncan started to produce music for a variety of different ensembles, mainly dealing with non-standard instrumentation, for which there was little in the way of published music. His work has been published by De Haske/Hal Leonard, The Music Company Ltd., Waterton Brass Music (USA) and Bones Apart Publishing. He has recently completed a large commission for AboutSound.com and his music has been recorded by the world famous Black Dyke Band. Some of his arrangements for brass band are now published by Superbrass Music and Pennine Music Publishing.

Duncan is a busy freelance trombonist, euphonium and bass trumpet player and has performed with most of the UK's symphony and opera orchestras, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.