Carl Woodcroft | Howard Beagley | Edward Maxwell | Philip Thompson | Ian Stott | Trevor Walker

Carl Woodcroft

Carl has taught and coached young musicians for Surrey Arts since 2005, working as a specialist brass teacher and as a tutor to the county youth orchestra. As a tuba player, Carl has recorded with orchestras for BBC radio and television appearing at the BBC Proms, Aldeburgh and Glastonbury festivals, as well as working with ensembles including the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London Philharmonic, Old Dirty Brasstards, Video Games Live, English National Ballet and Army of Generals. Carl has also recorded with Bastille at Abbey Road Studios for Amazon Music and performed on TFI Friday and BBC Songs of Praise. He has been used as a musician at both Pinewood and Leavesden Studios for background scenes in the films Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and Military Wives. Carl studied at the Royal Academy of Music where his studies were made possible by EMI Music. He was a Britten-Pears Young Artist from 2012-2015. Carl also teaches at Royal Holloway University, Highgate School and as a guest tuba teacher at the junior department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Howard Beagley – Trombone

Howard was awarded a Junior Exhibitioner award to attend the Royal College of Music Junior department from 1988-1994. He studied with Ian White, winning 4 soloist awards as well as being Principal Trombone of the Surrey Youth Orchestra and performing with the National Youth Orchestra.  From 1994-1998 Howard studied at the Royal College of Music with trombone professor Arthur Wilson. During this time he gave several solo performances and was awarded the Senior Brass Prize. Since leaving the RCM Howard has performed with a variety of ensembles from London orchestras to jazz bands in Brighton. He has given solo concerto performances in the UK and across Europe.  Howard started working for Surrey Arts in  2000 and enjoys a varying portfolio of work from individual brass lessons to conducting ensembles.

Q – What got you interested in playing the Trombone?

A – When I was seven, a group came into my school (Whyteleafe School in Surrey) and played their brass instruments. I was amazed. Then one of them got up and played his trombone. Well, the sound was just amazing. What a fab noise and then he did loads of slides and I was hooked.

My older sister, who was at secondary school, told her music teacher and a trombone was found, lent to me and I started lessons. I haven’t looked back.

Q – What do you like about teaching?

A – Every student is different. Their expectations, their tastes, their energy. Finding the things that make them enjoy music, enable them to express themselves, that’s the buzz. Encouraging them to achieve and advance no matter how small the goal. Helping students cope and understand constructive criticism is very important. No one plays music perfectly every time no matter how hard we try. Learning to live, cope, and make better these imperfections is a huge life skill that will transfer to other aspects in life and school.

Q – Do you have any other interests?

I love cooking! If I am not gigging at the weekend making a Sunday roast or inviting family and friends over to share some food (while listening to some good music) just fills me with joy.

Q – Do you have a favourite piece of music?

A – This can change on the day, my mood and my energy level. Sometimes it is Opera. Puccini usually — Tosca, Turandot or Verdi’s Rigoletto. Sometimes I just want the simplicity of the piano, Chopin’s Nocturne in C Sharp Minor (especially played by Ashkenazy), or the comic and probably the best: J.A. Greenwood’s The Acrobat played by me!!!

Edward Maxwell

Edward Maxwell was born and brought up in Birmingham (which explains his misfortune in supporting Aston Villa). He studied at Sussex University and the Royal College of Music and enjoys a varied career as a freelance trumpet player and teacher. Highlights have included playing in seven productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company (including sharing a stage with David Tennant in Richard II) and making a fleeting appearance as a court musician (standing behind Cate Blanchett) in the Oscar-winning film Elizabeth the Golden Age. He has played in many shows including the West End production of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, for which the band was nominated for an Olivier Award. He has performed, recorded and broadcast with numerous ensembles, ranging from jazz and contemporary music to playing the natural trumpet in leading European period instrument orchestras such as Florilegium and Die Kölner Akademie. For many years, he gave music presentations at Hampton Court Palace in a wig and tights. A keen composer, editor and arranger, his music has been published by Boosey & Hawkes, Music Sales, Spartan Press and Warwick Music, and has appeared on the ABRSM trumpet syllabus. As a music educator, he has run training workshops for instrumental teachers and has contributed articles to Music Teacher Magazine. Edward teaches at a number of schools in Surrey. He also has a sideline as an artist – www.edwardsdrawings.co.uk. He lives in Westcott with his wife, Sian, four children and a variety of animals.  For more information, please visit www.edwardmaxwell.com

Philip Thompson (GGSM)

Philip studied for 4 years (including 1 year of post-graduate study) at the Guildhall School of Music where his professors were Tony Halstead (ECO), Hugh Seenan (LSO) and Richard Bissil (LPO). After music college a spell in France doing National Service afforded the opportunity of further study with Michel Cantin (Orchestre National de France) and Jens McManama (Ensemble Intercontemporain), as well as freelancing and recordings.

Since his return to Britain, he has continued to freelance in London and the South East, playing for such ensembles as: New London Sinfonia, Britten-Pears Orchestra, London Orpheus Orchestra, Rosebery Orchestra.

As well as teaching and coaching for Surrey Arts, he continues to develop an interest in Baroque music, playing the hand-horn and reading history.

Ian Stott

Ian enlisted in The Life Guards Band (Household Cavalry) at 16 and attended the Guards School of Music, Pirbright. After equitation and medical training, Ian joined the band and subsequently attended Kneller Hall, The Royal Military School of Music. He continued his studies with Denzil Floyd whilst in the band, performing at state occasions, investitures at Buckingham Palace, Trooping The Colour etc. Ian often played on horseback at those events and he has appeared on live radio and T.V. as well as featuring in 101 Dalmatians for Disney. 

He attended The Guildhall School of Music part time, studying with Jonathan Lipton for several years whilst still in the Army. After time as a medic in the east end of London during the ambulance strike 1989-90,  the Gulf war in 1991 and a short tour with the  UN in Bosnia in 1994, Ian left the army in 1996. 

Ian was a member of Chameleon brass, working on Live Music Now! and the Music In Hospitals schemes. He has played with London Concert Orchestra and The National Symphony Orchestra and deputised on Phantom of the Opera. 

Ian has coached horn for The National Children’s Orchestra, Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra (both training and main) and was brass coach for Richmond Youth Concert Band and Thames Youth Orchestra, where he was also orchestral manager. He taught horn at both Tiffin and Tiffin Girls School for over 20 years and was Head of Brass for Richmond Music Trust, where he developed the wider opportunities brass project with Trevor Walker. Ian has also taught at Cranleigh and Cranleigh Prep Schools, Putney High and Kingston Grammar Schools.

He currently teaches extensively for Surrey Arts in the Dorking area where he lives and at Reigate Grammar School and Epsom College. 

Ian performs regularly with Chamberhouse Winds in schools, offering shows such as Peter and the Wolf and Carnival of the Animals to children www.chw.org.uk . He also performs in pit orchestras, with Southern Pro Musica and with The British Imperial Military Band.  Ian recently toured the UK with All You Need is Love, a Beatles tribute show for Flyer Productions.

Recording with the choristers of St Pauls Cathedral for Faber Music: https://soundcloud.com/ben-parry-music/went-the-day-well

Trevor Walker – Brass and guitar

Born in Surrey Trevor Walker began playing Piano at the age of seven followed by the trumpet at eight. As a child, Surrey Arts gave him the opportunity to play in different ensembles from SWS Concert band to Youth Wind Orchestra and Youth Jazz Orchestra. Trevor started Guitar at 14 playing everything from Jimi Hendrix to the Cavatina. After passing his classical recital diploma with honours on Trumpet, he knew his focus in Jazz, was where he wanted to go.

Trevor graduated with a BA Honours Jazz degree at the Royal Academy of Music studying with the great artists of the UK and the World. He also studied to be an educator as a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music. At the R.A.M. he chose World lessons with Barak Schmool. Whilst studying he attained several prestigious awards including Finalists in the Perrier Jazz awards with his band Tetragon (jazz with Multi Cultural influences) and the Scott Philbrook Prize to study in America. The Tetragon band played around the country with Live Music Now! working with children and adults with special needs as well as in prisons alongside festivals and London venues.

As an educator Trevor has worked in a variety of schools in London. He started working with Surrey Arts in 2003 and has been involved in education programmes in a wide variety of settings. This challenge enthuses Trevor to this day. He is inspired by how students develop and build an ability to overcome challenges, often finding their own route regardless of Grade 8 ability or severe special needs. He is happy to teach specifically in classical, jazz or pop music or a variety of styles according to the needs of each individual. Trevor was also Jazz Trumpet tutor at Southampton University between 2006-2015 and as a performer he has been working with Greg Foat from 2001 to this day in the UK and around Europe.

As a performer Trevor has supported a variety of artists including Steve Furst, Lionel Blair, Suggs (Madness), Martin Fry (ABC) the amazing Lianne Carroll. Trevor has toured Ireland and around Europe with Brassroots (Brassband) and has been playing Calypso for the past 15 years with the Association of British Calypsonians and Association of Calypsonian and Soca Artists UK. Trevor is also passionate about New Orleans Jazz and has been playing with Dom and the Ikos in the UK and Europe for many years featuring Dominic Pipkin choice Pianist for Dr John, Morcheeba, Paloma Faith.