The Recital Hall was a hub for all things brass on Thursday 23 February, as we welcomed our Music Fellow for Brass, Mark Templeton, into school.
Professional trombonist Mark, who is Principal Trombone with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, spent time in the morning working on technical elements of trombone-playing with our more advanced trombonists, as well as rehearsing some trombone ensemble repertoire with them.
At lunchtime, the Recital Hall was packed with the school’s brass players, not just trombonists this time, and not just Upper School boys – they were joined by our Prep School brass players too! Mark explained that, despite the differences between the different instruments, for example the slide of a trombone versus the keys of a trumpet, there were some tips on playing that helped all brass players universally, and the most fundamental of these is to do with air, and how they breathe. He stressed the importance of being as relaxed as possible when breathing, so that the breath doesn’t run out, regardless of the style of music being played. Together, under Mark’s direction, the boys practised an arrangement of the theme tune to The Incredibles, by another trombonist, former musician in residence Andrew Groom. The piece was designed especially to be played by players of differing abilities, so it was a great choice for this whole school group to try out. Mark encouraged all the boys to play out confidently, using the dynamic of ff, or “fiercely fantastic!”.
During the afternoon, Mark spent some more time in smaller groups with boys from Prep School brass ensembles, and then after school his attention turned to the Music Prize for Brass, where he was guest adjudicator in the Junior and Senior classes.
Mark told us, “I found the staff at the school to be warm and welcoming and the students keen and really engaged across all ages.”
After a wonderful evening of solo performances, the Junior Brass Prize was won by Alex Turner on trombone (Fourth Form) and the Senior Brass Prize by Daniel Hutchins on trumpet (Upper Sixth). The standard of performance was extremely high across the board, and all performers who took part were given excellent, informative and beneficial feedback from Mark.
About Mark Templeton
Mark is Principal Trombone at the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He began playing the trombone at the age of ten and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he received the Brass Prize in 1996. In the same year he won a place in the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and in 1998 he was awarded the International Trombone Association Philharmonic Prize in America.
Mark has had a full and varied freelance career and has played with most of the UK orchestras, as well as various European ones. He was a founder member of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Principal Trombone with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra prior to joining the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 2006.
Mark is also a professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London.
