OUR PLAYERS

I have been involved with the Aberdeenshire Saxophone orchestra for around 7 years now. The saxophone orchestra gave me my first opportunity to play the soprano saxophone, even lending me the instrument to practice with at home.

Whilst out for a motorbike run when I was 16 years old, I stumbled upon the Rothbury Folk Festival and hearing the fantastic session music, so full of life and fun, I was hooked on playing. Being a poorly paid apprentice all I could afford was a ...

I started playing the recorder and we got lessons at primary school. When I went to Portlethen Academy and we got the opportunity to learn an instrument, I chose the tenor saxophone.

I started playing music at a very early age when I was given piano lessons about the age of 5. My teacher then once said that I had a good ear. I was furious as I thought I had two good ears, lol.

Unfortunately, the teacher died not long after I started, but in Primary 5, I was offered the opportunity to learn an instrument.

I was given a French Horn to begin with. My mother's horror when I turned up with it at home for the first time - "I thought you would get something smaller!!"

I struggled to play the French Horn as it has a small mouthpiece. So I was given a Euphonium instead.

I gave up music to concentrate on Maths and Science, but in my 40s I remember saying to my partner that I would like to learn Saxophone. She just said "Go on then. " That was a few years ago and I haven't looked back. I love the sound of the sax.

I learned to read music at school in Huntly and an opportunity arose to play a musical instrument for the school orchestra. I wanted to play the trumpet but there was only a trombone so I played that in my last 4 years. I also played in a community wind band and there was a saxophone player who produced a beautiful mellow sound on a tenor sax. I vowed that one day I would play it.

I started learning the sax when I first entered Ellon Academy, about eleven years ago now. My parents encouraged me to try learning an instrument, as it had been very positive and constructive for my older brother.