Biography
Job title: Senior Lecturer: Classical Music
Courses taught: BA (Hons) Music (Classical)
Specialisms: trombone
Originally from New Zealand, Blair moved to the United Kingdom in 2005 where he completed a Masters degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London under tutors Ian Bousfield, Denis Wick and Dudley Bright. He graduated with a DipRAM, the highest accolade awarded to performers. Blair then moved to Norway to take up the Principal Trombone position with the Stavanger Symfoniorkester, a position he held for nearly 3 years. Following this, Blair moved back to England to join the Orchestra of Opera North as Principal Trombone in 2012. He has performed as guest Principal Trombone with many of Britain’s best orchestras, including the London Symphony, London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, Halle, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and English National Opera Orchestras. He has also performed on the soundtrack to the television show Doctor Who, and has worked with many popular artists including Ray Davies, Steps, Rick Wakeman and Corinne Bailey Rae.