She has worked with a wide range of ensembles from Black Dyke Brass Band to Royal Northern Sinfonia and the Hallé Orchestra; collaborated with artists as diverse as Noisy Toys Robotic Orchestra and performance poet Louise Wallwein (MBE); and toured the world performing in everything from contemporary chamber opera in New York to the Lewis Capaldi Symphony Orchestra in Liverpool.

Andrea is on the teaching staff at the RNCM, Junior RNCM, and Chetham’s School of Music, is the Director of RNCM Young Percussion, and is the recipient of an RNCM Teaching and Learning Award in recognition of her excellence and innovation in teaching and learning.

Her students feature regularly in the finals of major competitions including BBC Young Musician of the Year, and many have been awarded major scholarships to study at top UK Conservatoires.

From 2017-2020 Andrea was the lead consultant heading the team that created the new ABRSM Percussion Syllabus.

After graduating, he freelanced with many of the London Orchestras and the joined Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet Orchestra in 1979. He then joined the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra (since renamed the BBC Philharmonic) in 1981 and later was offered the position of Principal Percussion – a post he has now held for over 25 years.

Whilst at the BBC Philharmonic, Paul has worked closely with many of Britain’s great composers including Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and James MacMillan, and has collaborated with them to create many new percussive sounds for the 21st Century.

In addition to his busy schedule with the BBC, Paul is Head of Percussion at Chetham’s School of Music, operates his own percussion hire business and tutors at the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Manchester.

In 1987, Paul was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for his services to British Music.

Leaving the Royal College, David was invited to play with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra where he held the Sub-Principal position for six years.David has written extensively for solo tuned percussion and timpani and his works are prominent in all of the major examination syllabuses in the United Kingdom.

David also owns and runs HEXTMUSIC.

“David Hext has once again given us some invaluable additions to the examination repertoire (Tuned Percussion Books 3 & 4), and both he and the London College of Music deserve our support for their initiative. I also feel that his initiative could have far-reaching effects, playing a definitive role in the development of mallet percussion in this country (UK), and as such it cannot be ignored.” National Union of Percussion Teachers, 2002

In addition to her performing career Sophie has furthered her musical education in Cuba and Brazil studying the ever evolving music of rumba, salsa, mozambique, comparsa, bata, samba and maracatu with master percussionists from Afrocuba de Matanzas, Clave y Guaguanco, Obba Wemilere, Los Companadores de Batea, Orchesta Sublime, GRES Portela, Monobloco and Rio Maracatu. She has also studied Candomble with Ney De Oxossi, samba de roda with Fabiano Salek, frame drums with Glen Velez and konnokol with Lori Cotler.

Sophie is head of Drum Kit and Rhythm Percussion at Birmingham Conservatoire where she has created a unique syllabus focusing on world music to promote individual creativity in the developing musician. Since 2008 Sophie has taught drum kit and Latin percussion at Chetham’s School Of Music. Her teaching focusses on providing students with the language required by today’s drummers and percussionists, allowing them to develop the skills needed to perform in any musical situation.

Sophie Hastings – Sabian Artist

His work within the brass band world has seen him at the top flight for almost twenty years. He has held solo euphonium positions with the Fairey Band (1997-2000), the Black Dyke Band (2000-2010) and the Brighouse & Rastrick Band (2011-2015) having won five National titles, three British Opens and one European Championship during this time. David is currently the solo euphonium player with the world famous Foden’s Band.

As a recording artist David has released three solo albums. His debut CD, ‘Three Worlds’, was awarded Solo CD of the Year for 2004 by the British Bandsman magazine. In May 2007 David released his second solo album, ‘Devil’s Duel’. Furthermore, David features as a soloist on 22 different albums of band music, including ‘Epic Brass’ and ‘Jubilee Brass’ – live recordings of two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. David’s third solo album, ‘Sempre Libera’ is recorded with the Brighouse & Rastrick Band and was released in January 2014.

David tutors at the RNCM, the University of Huddersfield and Chetham’s School of Music. His current and former students already hold principal positions in many leading bands around the UK. David has also been a tutor for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, National Youth Brass Band of Wales, National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain and the International Brass Band Summer School.

David Thornton is a Sterling Musical Instruments performing artist and consultant, playing exclusively on the Sterling Virtuoso Euphonium.