Biography

Originally from Ayr, Joshua started playing brass instruments in the Salvation Army through their learner program at the age of four. When he started high school, his grandfather gave him and old trombone out of his loft and then started teaching himself how to play it.

Towards the end of high school, he took part in the Ayrshire music festival where he won the Open Brass Category and then went on to win the Overall Best Instrumentalist. This was where he won The Elizabeth McNair Trophy, James M Clark Prize for Instrumental Music and The John R Chalmers Trophy. After spending two years at the Junior Conservatoire getting taught by Alastair Sinclair he started studying full time at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2019 where he is taught by Lance Green on a scholarship place.

Joshua’s ambitions as a trombone player are to graduate the Royal Conservatoire and work as a freelancer in Glasgow. He has a passion for teaching and community outreach through music which he discovered while volunteering to give music lessons at the same learner’s program where he learned how to play.

How the Award Helped

Since the Award

Joshua was appointed the Musical Director of Brass Sounds Inverclyde in October 2021. He led them to a very impressive win in the 4th Section Scottish Championships in 2022, and followed this up with a podium position in the 3rd Section in 2023. He was also a Semi-Finalist in the European Solo Championships in Malmo, Sweden in 2023.

In 2023, Joshua graduated with a 1st Class Honours degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2023. In June 2023, Joshua was appointed the new Resident Conductor of UNISON Kinneil Band.