Richard Stubbings

Richard was educated at Wells Cathedral School and Cranleigh School before taking a BA degree with honours in Music Education at Kingston University, and also gaining a teaching licentiateship from Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He studied trombone with Roger Harvey (Halle Orchestra, London Brass and BBC Symphony) and Sidney Langston (BBC Symphony Orchestra) and bass trombone with Leslie Lake (English National Opera) and Frank Mathison (London Symphony Orchestra).

Before returning to his native Somerset, Richard was an instrumental teacher for Surrey Arts for 26 years, teaching all brass as well as his specialist trombone and bass trombone.  During his time with Surrey he also tutored the low brass section of the Surrey County Youth Orchestra as well as taking all the full brass and full wind/brass/percussion sectional rehearsals.  Richard formed and directed the Surrey County Youth Brass Ensemble as well as the Mid-Surrey Training Band for beginners.

A member of the Musicians Union for nearly 40 years he served as MU Rep for the Surrey Music Hub.  In December 2016 he received a citation from the Chairman of Surrey County Council for 25 Years’ service to music in Surrey.  A number of Richard’s pupils have gone on to music conservatoire and to professional careers in music. Richard also has extensive experience of whole-class instrumental teaching under the Wider opportunities scheme.

An experienced orchestral player, Richard is Principal Bass Trombone with the West Forest Sinfonia (principal conductor Philip Ellis of Birmingham Royal Ballet), a post he has held for some 18 years.  In addition to this, Richard has performed regularly with the Woking Symphony Orchestra, St John’s Chamber Orchestra, The Elgar Orchestra, Surrey Opera and London City Opera, as well as playing in musicals and big bands. As a chamber music player Richard has played a large volume of brass ensemble music, and has conducted music for symphonic brass professionally, working with Surrey Brass, of which he was a founder member as bass trombonist, and the combined brass and percussion sections of the West Forest Sinfonia. Richard has also played with a number of brass bands, such as the Romford Band, Egham Band, The Friary Meux Band and the Croydon Band.

Outside music, Richard has a keen interest in buses and trains and combines this with his interest in photography. He is currently half-way through a project to produce a series of three books on private bus operators at the request of a leading publisher of transport books.

To enquire about lower brass lessons with Richard at GYA Taunton please contact the office on 07754 217993 or email gyataunton@gsmd.ac.uk.