He is a trumpeter, arranger, composer and teacher born in London, England, who studied at the Royal Academy of Music.
Having regularly appeared with international orchestras, often as a soloist, he has given performances with ensembles including the Adelaide Symphony, RTE Concert Orchestra, London Philharmonic, New York Bachworks Orchestra, Cape Town Philharmonic, English Chamber Orchestra, English Symphony , Orchestra of Our Time, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, New York Virtuosi, London Symphony Brass, Equale Brass, and the BBC Symphony and was a member of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble from 1981 to 1984.
He has appeared in eight CDs as a soloist with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra and the English Symphony including the award winning The Contemporary Trumpet, with the organist Leslie Pearson on their Music for Trumpet and Organ. He has also performed with the popular artists Phil Collins and Barbra Streisand and with Sir Paul McCartney on his Tug of War and Give My Regards to Broad Street. Also on film soundtracks including Dangerous Liaisons, Memphis Belle, Cry Freedom, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover and Prospero’s Books.
In 1992 he founded the Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble in London and after moving to New York he reformed the group, who have since become highly acclaimed.
As a composer he has written “Birdsong”, his commissioned works include “Concertino for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble”, and the Australian Embassy asked him to write music for the ANZAC Day Service to be held at the National Cathedral in Washington DC.
On the business side of things he has assisted the Edwards Instrument Company in new trumpet designs and released his own range of “Graham Ashton Mouthpieces”.
As a teacher he is the Chair of Brass and Professor of Trumpet at the Purchase College, State University of New York and he has given numerous masterclasses throughout the United States and Europe.
Here’s Paul McCartney’s “Wanderlust” from Tug of War with accompanying brass musicians…
Sources:
- http://www.grahamashton.com/bio.shtml
- http://www.grahamashton.com/aboutgabe.shtml
- http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Music%20For%20Trumpet%20And%20Organ:1921525925
- http://www.musiciansgallery.com/start/brass/groups/graham_ashton/brass.htm
- http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0039211/