Brass

Baldwin, Joseph

Joseph Baldwin teaches trumpet, cornet and trombone at Bedford Modern School. He is a recent graduate of music performance from the University of Chichester and studied multiple brass instruments during his time there. His participation in a wide range of ensembles from brass quintets, orchestras, and brass bands has led to him playing in many prestigious events in different styles. Some examples are playing in the orchestra at the ‘Goodwood Festival of Speed’, which was aired on live TV for Sky Sports and ITV and playing first trombone in the dance band for the Torquay Riveria Swing Festival two years in a row, a hugely popular 1920s and 30s dance event in the southwest of England.

Joseph continues to perform regularly and last year he represented the UK in the European Youth Brass Banding championships in Palanga, Lithuania, and after coming in second place, he has been invited back to represent the country again this May in Stavanger, Norway. Closer to home, he also continues to play in musicals, concerts, and more!

David Carstairs has taught trumpet at BMS since 2005. He was born in Glasgow and attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Junior Department before continuing his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester.

Whilst at the RNCM he became a member of the award-winning Phoenix Brass Quintet, performing at both the Wigmore Hall and Purcell Rooms in London, as well as touring throughout Europe. They were the first British ensemble to be invited to study at the world famous Tanglewood Music Festival in the USA, where they received tuition from Empire Brass. David was Co-Principal Trumpet of the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra before returning to the UK to become Principal Trumpet of both the Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra and Performing Arts Symphony Orchestra, where he featured as soloist on several occasions.

David moved to London to join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1998, a position he held until 2005, when he became a member of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He has performed with the World Orchestra for Peace at the BBC Proms and Salzburg Festival and has appeared as Guest Principal Trumpet with many of the UK’s major Symphony Orchestras. David has coached and examined at the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music and Trinity Laban.

Phil Judge began playing trombone in Yorkshire and was fortunate to play with bands such as Grimethorpe Colliery, Yorkshire Imperial and Hammonds. He studied at Leeds College of Music and Trinity College London and has played with many orchestras including English National Opera, BBC Concert Orchestra, City of Birmingham, Bournemouth and Birmingham Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

Phil has also been fortunate to work in commercial fields with Johnny Dankworth and performed the Duke Ellington sacred music with Jessye Norman. Alongside this, he has played in many West End shows such as Les Misérables, Lion King, Book of Mormon, Cabaret, Guys and Dolls and, recently Kiss me Kate at the Barbican. As well as teaching at Bedford Modern School, Phil also teaches at Oundle and Holywell Middle Schools having previously taught at Purcell and Magdalen School Oxford amongst others.

Brendan Thomas, a teacher of the French Horn at BMS, studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and was a member of both the European Community Youth Orchestra and Bedfordshire Youth Orchestra. Just after finishing his studies, Brendan joined the BBC Symphony Orchestra, playing in several Last Night Of The Proms. Brendan left the BBC and established a diverse freelance career, in all genres of music. He has toured all over the world with the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and The Philharmonia, as well as playing in more than 70 West End musicals and regularly at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Glyndebourne, and English National Opera. Brendan has worked with orchestras abroad, particularly in Dublin, Brussels and Denmark, as well as appearing with SDR Rundfunk Big Band in Stuttgart and the Syd Lawrence Orchestra. He has performed as a soloist with several orchestras around the country, playing Mozart, Strauss, Britten and Schumann.

Other highlights of Brendan’s career include performing on George Michael’s last ever UK performance, recording film soundtracks of Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Cliffhanger, and Harry Potter amongst others, as well as being a named Artist with Laura Mvula, and playing at the O2 for the 25th anniversary of Les Misérables, Carnegie Hall, and Madison Square Garden with Andrea Bocelli. As well as teaching at BMS, Brendan has coached the Cambridge University Symphony Orchestra, Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra, Bedfordshire Youth Orchestra and Trinity Laban Orchestra.