OUR PLAYERS

My first musical love was folk music and as all my friends seemed to play some instrument or other I took up the concertina which was portable and didn’t need tuning.

I first picked up the sax in Loriston Primary school aged 8, when a woman came in with a selection of instruments (flute, clarinet, saxophone) for people in our primary to try out for 6 months and I immediately fell in love with the saxophone. Since then I have passed my grade three and grade 5 saxophone exams, started learning drum kit and developed my knowledge of music theory.

When I was 9 years old my Dad brought me back a didgeridoo from Australia and found I could play it really well, so my mum suggested I should think about playing an instrument. Having researched a lot of instruments I decided I loved the sound of the saxophone and began lessons through school.

Started playing sax as a retiral project 17 years ago. Aspired to Stan Getz, achieved Stan Laurel.

Played with Tayside Big Band for past year but barely hung on to their coat tails. Already knew several ASO members through Scottish Saxophone Academy Edzell weekends. Foss suggested I might like to try the last practice day.

Thoroughly enjoyed it and was made very welcome. You might be stuck with me for a wee while.

I fell in love with the saxophone on hearing Paul Desmond play Take Five in 1961 when I was 14. I learned clarinet and played it all my life, had a tenor sax for a few years when I was young but did not return to saxophone until an alto came my way when I was 53. Tenor and baritone followed. When in 2023 I found I was going to be spending time regularly in Banff, I searched online for an amateur music group I could join. I was amazed and delighted to discover the Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra. It is friendly, welcoming and great fun, the essence of enjoyable music making.

Music has played a large part in my life from an early age. Both close and wider family are musical. When I came to Banff in 1962 I was given the option of continuing piano lessons or starting lessons in Voice. I chose the latter and was tutored by the late Harold George and had success in both the Aberdeen and Banffshire Music Festivals. I have also sung in various choirs over the years.