I started playing flute when I was 7, having got bored of the recorder and finding the xylophone was too popular! At my school there were more cornet players than anything else so I didn’t realise just how popular the flute was at the time.

The best thing about BSW is definitely the social aspect. Everybody really gels on and off stage, which helps us to perform at the standard we do.

But the worst is it always seems to be sunny when we rehearse and as soon as we leave it’ll start to rain!

There have been two hugely memorable BSW experiences for me so far, and both linked. We were invited to play at WASBE in 2007 which was an honour, and playing “Canticle of the Sun” with Simone Rebello in Killarney was a moment that will stay with me.

The other was a fundraising trip to Cologne to help with costs towards the WASBE trip. With one week’s notice, the band managed to arrive on various planes and get completely sunburnt in order to perform Berio’s “Accordo” in the square outside Cologne cathedral. There were just four hour’s work involved in that weekend of socialising with like-minded travellers!

I love playing music specifically written for wind orchestra and hearing solos really suited to the instrument they are played on. Recent favourites from BSW repertoire include Woolfenden’s “Gallimaufry” and Fergal Carroll’s “Winter Dances”.

At home I listen to anything from Soul and Motown to Ska and chilled out, acoustic guitar music. It depends on the time of day!

By day I’m an engineering recruitment consultant within the environmental industry. It is surprising how many of my clients are musicians!

And aside from BSW I play saxes in an 8 piece soul band – Junction 2; and try to get away any weekend I haven’t got a gig either, camping in the UK or city breaks around Europe.