Having taken up the drums at the age of twelve, Grahame King, Principal Timpani, went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music, with James Blades and Nick Cole, and has since played with most of the UK orchestras and made numerous recordings, of which he is most proud of several of Tchaikovsky's symphonies recorded with Yuri Temirkanov and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. His eclectic musical taste is represented in his range of instruments - he also plays the clarinet, piano and harmonica.