Artist Insights

Nils Landgren has demonstrated how versatile a brass instrument the trombone can be since the

1980s, playing with legends as diverse as ABBA, Wyclef Jean, Joe Sample & the Crusaders and Herbie

Hancock.

Trying out his father’s trombone at 13, Nils was inspired by The Beatles to pursue diverse musical

ventures. Initially classically trained, Nils toured with pop legend Bjorn Skifs (“Hooked on a Feeling”)

and rediscovered jazz through Miles Davis.

Nils describes bluffing his way into a solo album, experimenting with hip hop, and later singing and

acting. He talks about his unique red trombone, the pleasures of versatility, and working with

Doctors Without Borders.

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One of the world’s most sought-after brass players, Sergio Carolino has expanded the repertoire and

popularity of the tuba, across a range of musical genres. Although wind bands were popular in his

native Portugal, Sergio admits arrived at music as a secondary passion, behind his love of tennis and

caricature.

Largely an autodidact, Sergio began playing Dixieland jazz and progressed to fusion and funk. He

found inspiration in records he analysed with his friends and discusses music as an escape from the

divisiveness in society.

Sergio talks about musical curiosity, teaching masterclasses, and the value of being true to your own

musical vision.

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Scottish flutist Stephen Clark has come a long way from his Glasgow beginnings, having toured in

locations as far-flung as Jordan, Latvia, and Mexico and fulfilled a personal bucket list that included

skydiving and swimming with sharks!

From early beginnings playing the recorder, to failing at the violin, Stephen arrived at the flute as a

last resort. He reveals how inspiring his first teacher proved, as well as loving the recordings of flute

legend Sir James Galway.

Stephen talks about calming performance nerves, the cruelty of competitions, the unique challenges

of his instrument, and preparing for his 2018 Carnegie Hall recital.

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Young French percussionist Adélaïde Ferrière has won several international prizes and performed in

festivals and concert halls worldwide. Adélaïde remembers being inspired as a child watching her

timpanist father. Now, she’s inspiring a new generation of percussionists with her solo marimba and

ensemble performances.

Adélaïde specialises in transposing classical repertoire for solo marimba and making gorgeous video

performances, including Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, which she performed on a rooftop in New

York. She talks about joining the Paris Conservatoire at just 15 years old, explores her use of media,

and discusses the unique challenges of tuned percussion.

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London-born tubist Theon Cross has been celebrated for “reinventing the tuba” and his music has

garnered high praise from publications including The Guardian, The New York Times and NPR. He has

toured extensively throughout Europe and the Americas, as well as scoring a number 1 jazz release

with his debut album “Fyah.”

Beginning his musical journey on the little-known tenor horn, Theon admits being envious of his

trombonist brother until an inspiring teacher gave him a euphonium. Having begun with classical

training, he then played with a Brazilian-styled carnival group and discovered how funky brass could

be.

A rich mix of sounds including Caribbean soca, soul and roots reggae music infused Theon’s

childhood. He discovered jazz through his brother and talks about how inspiring his Guildhall days

were, as well as the joys of playing with Jon Batiste and being feted by Iggy Pop.

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The saxophone might not be the first instrument you associate with dance music. However,

international sax Player Ellie Sax has rocked gigs and parties from New Year’s Eve in the Maldives to

European super-clubs like The Ministry of Sound.

Like many artists these days, she uses video to share her music with a wider audience, including her

single, one-take livestream from an Ibizan clifftop, together with her DJ husband Harry.

Ellie likens the DJ/soloist combination to a chamber music collaboration. She talks about finding her

instrument, music as celebration, and discovering how popular and joyous house music with

saxophone can be.

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Our debut Artists Insight podcast is about the remarkable and life-enhancing journeys that music can take us on, and not just the exceptional and talented musicians featured here. Their stories will resonate with anyone who’s ever picked up an instrument and, we hope, inspire you to continue your musical journey and tell your own stories. This first season we've caught up with brass, woodwind and strings artists.

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There’s no place for a long face in music. Acclaimed Belgian trumpet player Jeroen Berwaerts recalls the memorable concerts from an extraordinary career, provides unique insights into his practice routines and explains why you’ve always got to keep smiling.

Why the last two bars are always so scary. Describing the trumpet as an extension of his voice, acclaimed Belgian trumpet player Jereoen Berwaerts recalls the memorable concerts from an extraordinary career, provides unique insights into his practice routines and confesses that he always gets nervous at the very end. Believing there’s no place for a long face in music, Jereoen discusses the importance of self-belief, doing everything in a musical way and how he always tries to channel all the great mentors he’s had in his own teaching.

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The first-ever winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year, Clarinet virtuoso Michael Collins looks back on his multifaceted career as a soloist, conductor and professor, and forward to a time when the classical music business might become more equal.

Clarinet virtuoso Michael Collins looks back on his multifaceted career as a soloist, conductor and professor, and forward to a time when the classical music business might become more equal. With a love of classical music ignited by a Ladybird Book of Mozart, it’s a rollercoaster ride that takes in winning the first ever BBC Young Musician of the Year award, stepping on stage at Carnegie Hall aged 22, telling the Queen that she couldn’t try his clarinet, playing a Messiaen clarinet Concerto with the great man in the front row. Why German audiences wait before applauding and how playing chamber music is like a good game of tennis.

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Widely acknowledged as the leading baritone horn player of her generation, Katrina Marzella talks about her musical influences, growing up in an Italian-Hebridean household and being a woman in the male-dominated world of brass bands. And why playing at Sydney Opera House is no different to playing in Falkirk Town Hall.

What it is that makes lawyers such great musicians. Widely acknowledged as the leading baritone horn player of her generation, Katrina Marzella talks about her musical influences growing up in an Italian-Hebridean household, being a woman in the male-dominated word of brass bands and why playing at Sydney Opera House is really no different to playing in Falkirk Town Hall. With so few recordings available for inspiration when she started out, Katrina explains her commitment to expanding Baritone Horn repertoire, why she thinks young players should take the opportunity to travel and study abroad, and why family support means everything.

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