Role

:

Conductor  

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

John Wilbraham was a renowned classical music artist who was born on April 10, 1930, in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England. He was the son of a brass band conductor and grew up in a musical family. His father, Harry Wilbraham, was a well-known conductor and composer, and his mother, Edith, was a pianist. Wilbraham began playing the trumpet at the age of six and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. He joined his father's brass band, the Ashton-under-Lyne Band, and began performing in local concerts. He later studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music, where he was taught by Ernest Hall, the principal trumpet player of the Hallé Orchestra. After completing his studies, Wilbraham joined the Hallé Orchestra as a trumpet player in 1952. He quickly established himself as one of the leading trumpet players in the country and was soon in demand as a soloist. He performed with many of the leading orchestras in the UK, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. In 1962, Wilbraham was appointed principal trumpet player of the London Symphony Orchestra, a position he held for 13 years. During his time with the orchestra, he performed on many of their most famous recordings, including the soundtrack for the film "Star Wars." He also performed with the orchestra on many international tours, including trips to the United States, Japan, and Australia. Wilbraham was known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to perform difficult pieces with ease. He was particularly renowned for his performances of the trumpet concertos of Haydn, Hummel, and Mozart. He also performed many contemporary works, including pieces by Benjamin Britten and Michael Tippett. In addition to his work as a performer, Wilbraham was also a respected teacher. He taught at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music, where he was a professor of trumpet. Many of his students went on to have successful careers as trumpet players, including Alison Balsom and Philip Cobb. Wilbraham received many awards and honors throughout his career. In 1976, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to music. He was also awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Instrumentalist Award in 1981 and the International Trumpet Guild's Honorary Award in 1991. Wilbraham continued to perform and teach until his death on July 24, 2008, at the age of 78. He was remembered as one of the greatest trumpet players of his generation and a true ambassador for classical music. His legacy lives on through his recordings and the many students he taught over the years.

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