Adjudicator & AoBBA Member

Stuart Gray’s association with the Trombone began at the age of 12 after brief flirtations with both the Violin and Clarinet.

He quickly progressed and was soon performing in many bands in and around his home town of Gateshead. In his teens Stuart started to travel to Leeds to study with Chris Houlding (Principal Trombone, Opera North. Professor of Trombone, Royal Northern College of Music) and during this time was a member of Northern Junior Philharmonic Orchestra, British Youth Opera, and National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, joining them on their tour to Russia in 1989.

Stuart is a well-known musician in the North East, playing in Orchestras and bands, and touring extensively with The Elvis Collection as well as with the Frank Zappa Tribute Band - Wagga Jawaka. As a soloist he has performed the Lars Erik Laarson Trombone Concertino, the Albrechtsberger Trombone Concerto and the Grohndahl Trombone Concerto with local orchestras. He is also frequently to be seen playing with the Royal Northern Sinfonia Orchestra and has worked as an extra with the Orchestra of Opera North, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and The Ulster Orchestra. He also runs Prince Bishops Brass, a much in demand brass quintet based in the North of England.

Having always been active in the Brass Band Movement, he started his playing career in the early 80’s with Harton and Westoe Colliery Band and enjoyed spells as solo trombone with Silksworth Colliery Band and Greggs Bakery Band. As a conductor he took over Ovington Tynedale Band when aged only 23, taking them from the 4th to 2nd section over the subsequent 10 years. He was resident conductor with RMT Easington Colliery Brass Band (as featured in “Secret Millionaire” TV programme) from 2002-2009 and is currently Musical Director of Durham Miners Association Brass Band.