spitfiretrombones.co.uk

     the website of

        The Spitfire Trombone Quartet

Matthew Eckland

Matthew Eckland was born in  London in 1984.  At the age of seven he began playing the trombone under the guidance of Andrew Emeny.  In 1994 he was awarded a place in the National Children's Wind and Chamber Orchestras.  From the age of thirteen he was taught by Clifford Jones in the Hertfordshire County Music Service.  Whilst in the Hertfordshire Music Service, Matthew played in the County Youth Brass Band, Wind Orchestra, and the Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra.  A main highlight during this time was playing the famous Principal Trombone part in Mahler’s 3rd Symphony.  In  2002, Matthew took up the offer of a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying under Eric Crees and Simon Wills. Orchestral experience whilst at Guildhall has included the Principal Trombone Part in Sibelius’ Symphony No.7. In 2004 Matthew was awarded  a place on the LSO Brass Academy .  Outside of Guildhall, professional experience has included the Anton Bruckner Orchestra and the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales. Matthew is also a keen chamber musician, with a particular interest in specialist costume ensembles. In July 2006 Matthew was proud to be voted in as President of the Student's Union at  the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he  continues his studies.

Christopher Gill began playing the Trombone aged 13 and progressed quickly, moving to Bass Trombone a year later. Before Music college Chris studied Bass Trombone with Peter Lacey, Alwyn Green and Adrian Morris. Chris was a member of Staffordshire Music service, playing with Staffordshire Youth Orchestra, Wind Orchestra and Jazz Orchestra. Chris was also Bass Trombonist with the Midland Youth Orchestra and National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain. In 2002 Christopher was awarded an annual scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music with Robert Hughes .Whilst at the R.A.M. he has regularly played with the Academy Symphony and Concert Orchestras’ as well as the Academy Brass soloists. In 2005 he was the ‘highly commended’ runner up in the Sidney Langston Brass Prize. Chris also studies with Keith McNicoll and Patrick Jackman at the R.A.M. Outside of the college, Chris is a member of the Britten Pears Orchestra. He has worked with the English Sinfonia and played off-stage with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Tsunami Appeal concert 2005). As well as playing the modern bass trombone, Chris has a great interest in period performance, playing the Bass Sackbut. In July 2006 Chris  accepted the offer of a post-graduate year at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he will continue his studies with  Keith McNicoll as his principle tutor.  

Richard was born in Sheffield in 1984 and first became interested in music at the age of 6 when he started learning the piano. At the age of 11 he began playing the trombone and quickly found himself playing with the Derbyshire City and County Youth Wind Band, his teacher at that time was Peter Lacey. At 16 Richard was accepted into the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and was given the opportunity  to work with some of the world's finest conductors,  Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Andrew Davis and Mark Elder, and to be coached by top professionals including Peter Gane and Chris Houlding, it was during this period that Richard met, and developed a close musical relationship with Jonny.   After leaving NYO Richard continued his studies by moving to London and accepting a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied with Simon Wills and Eric Crees. Since going to Guildhall Richard has been very busy as a player and has been performing with the European Union Youth Orchestra since the age of 18. This has given him the opportunity to work with yet more great musicians including Bernard Haitink, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Paavo Jarvi. In March 2006 Richard was awarded The Armourers' and Brasiers' Brass Prize at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.  Richard graduated in  2006  and is now working as a freelance trombonist and teacher.

Jonny began playing the trombone at the age of seven under Stewart Ivory before joining the Royal College of Music Junior Department where he studied with Simon Gunton and Andrew Fawbert. At the age of 13, Jonny moved to Rugby School where he studied the trombone under Simon Hogg. Jonny played with several youth music groups, including the National Children’s Orchestra and the National Children’s Wind and Chamber Orchestras (where he met Matthew Eckland) until he joined the Midland Youth Orchestra (where he met Chris Gill) at the age of 15 and subsequently was accepted into the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (where he met Richard Watkin). During his time with the National Youth Orchestra, Jonny had the privilege to work with such artists as  Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Andrew Davies, Yan Pascal Tortelier and Lynn Harrell. In 2004, Jonny reached the Brass Semi-finals of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, and in 2006 became a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra. He has performed with such groups as the New English Concert Orchestra, The Elgar Sinfonia and Jubilate Brass. Jonny works for the National Children’s Wind and Chamber Orchestras and has taught at the Royal College of Music Junior Department. Jonny is a fourth year student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studies the tenor trombone with Eric Crees, Simon Wills, Peter Gane and bass trombone with Keith McNicholl.