Born: Burnley, Lancashire

Studied: I was brought up playing in Brass Bands in the north of England, eventually joining the Black Dyke Mills Band where I was a member for four years. During that time I studied at the Huddersfield Polytechnic. After that I did a Post Graduate course at the Royal College of Music.

Career before the Royal Ballet Sinfonia: I had been a member of the European Community Youth Orchestra, then freelanced for several years both with UK orchestras and in the West End.

Joined: 2000

Favourite piece of music: There are too many wonderful pieces of orchestral music to pick just one. Away from work I love listening to the guitarist Pat Metheny who is an amazing musician.

First ballet or concert you saw: My dad took me to see Buddy Rich’s Big Band at Halifax town hall when I was 13. I can still remember how much energy, drive and excitement there was in the hall that evening.

Why the trumpet? When I was six, I found my dad’s old trumpet in the attic and used to sit in front of the TV Test Card attempting to play along. It must have sounded awful!

Favourite ballet to play: Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé. I think it is one of the most descriptive pieces of music ever written and is sublime either for the ballet or on the concert platform. It would be my Desert Island Discs choice.

Most challenging piece to play: Mahler’s 5th Symphony, purely because of the solo trumpet opening. I first played it on trial with the CBSO.

Alternative career: Now I would be a golfer, but when I was a teenager it would have been athletics or football.

Most challenging non-musical thing you have done: Taking the cats to the vet!

Interesting fact about you: I’m a big Steve McQueen fan - I must have watched The Towering Inferno 40 times!