Michael Allen, Principal Trumpet, started playing the trumpet at the age of seven, after discovering his fathers trumpet in the attic. He trained at Huddersfield Polytechnic with David James and Philip McCann, then at the Royal College of Music in London with John Wallace, before his first professional engagement playing Principal Trumpet with the Hallé. Mike has been a member of the European Community Youth Orchestra, Black Dyke Mills Band and London Brass Virtuosi. He now shares his professional life between Principal Trumpet of the RBS and Co-principal Trumpet of the RPO.