Join us for an evening of music to celebrate the life of John Wilbraham.
To purchase tickets please contact Jane Hill 01749 675668 janehill546@aol.com or use the following website: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/wells-city-band-67659775143
John Wilbraham is considered one of the finest English trumpet players of the last 60 years. John had an illustrious career at the very top of the music profession as a soloist, recording artist, and principal trumpet of several of the country’s symphony orchestras. Despite this glittering career, John had a very close association with Wells and in particular Wells City Band. John’s association with Wells came about when he was appointed as Trumpet Consultant at Wells Cathedral School which involved termly visits to the school to give masterclasses to trumpet pupils on the specialist music scheme. John fell in love with the city and especially the cathedral and attended evensong whenever he was in Wells.
Despite being in demand as a trumpet player in London and all over the UK John decided to leave his home in London and moved to Wells buying a house in St Cuthbert’s Street opposite the south door. John attended services regularly at St Cuthbert’s and at the Cathedral and he became a very well-known and much-loved character around the city.
Shortly after his move to Wells John offered up his services to play cornet with Wells City Band for free often helping out on 3rd cornet or solo cornet, wherever the band needed. John on occasions conducted the band and generously offered up his considerable experience to the band in rehearsals. Over the years John became very fond of Wells City Band and he was a big supporter of the band up until he died in his beloved Wells.
John was born in Bournemouth on 15 April 1944. From 1962 to 1965 he studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. Subsequently, he also studied with the legendary French player Maurice Andre. His career began in 1966, with the New Philharmonia Orchestra. He made his first solo recording the following year. Thereafter, he was Principal Trumpet of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and in the late 1980s, Co-Principal of the Philharmonia.
As a performer and recording artist, John was particularly associated with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and with the English Chamber Orchestra. He also played for Karl Richter’s Munich Bach Orchestra, and for five year was a member of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. A brilliant player of baroque music on the piccolo trumpet, he was no less accomplished in the twentieth-century repertoire. His playing inspired a number of contemporary composers to write for him.
John was both a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and Professor of Trumpet. He also taught at the Birmingham School of Music, the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, and the National Youth Orchestra. He was a member of the board of examiners of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and the Paris Conservatoire.
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