Garfield Austin - Trombone

Garfield Austin began playing the trombone at 12 and within two years was the youngest member of the West of England's Champion brass band; Camborne Town. As one of the senior British brass bands Camborne recorded for BBC Radio 2 and Radio 3 and were Championship Section national finalists.

Garfield transferred his attention to classical performing under the guidance of the legendary Denis Wick, attaining a Royal College of Music Performance Diploma, and later went on to study advanced orchestral technique with Ian Bousfield (Principal Trombone, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) and Dudley Bright (Principal Trombone, London Symphony Orchestra). He now freelances as a classical tenor and alto trombonist in every format from solo recital to symphony orchestra and has performed with Chaconne Brass, Bath Philharmonia, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and BSO Brass Ensemble, The Sinfonietta and numerous other ensembles.  Garfield is the Principal Trombone of Bristol Ensemble.

Garfield also maintains a significant teaching practice and current and former pupils have been (or are) members of the National Youth Orchestra, National Children’s Orchestra, National Schools Symphony Orchestra and National Youth Wind Ensemble. His most advanced current pupil was runner-up in the British Trombone Society Under-16s Competition. Two pupils have attained the DipABRSM qualification. Garfield is the specialist low brass teacher at Millfield School, King's School Bruton and Queen's College Taunton as well as the Low Brass Coach for the Bath and NE Somerset Symphonic Wind Band. He is director of the Trombonicity trombone quartet events.

tel: 07976 711540
e: robynandgarfield@me.com

Photographs courtesy of Steve Herring Design