Phil Cobb, Helen Vollam Brass Masterclass

We are delighted to welcome the highly acclaimed musicians Phil Cobb and Helen Vollam to take masterclasses with our brass students.
Philip Cobb – Trumpet
Philip is Principal Trumpet of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, having previously held the same position in the London Symphony Orchestra from the age of 21. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and regularly performs as a soloist at venues such as London’s Royal Albert Hall. He is also a member of the highly-acclaimed brass septet Septura, the legendary London
Brass and is Visiting Brass Artist at the GSMD.
A fourth-generation Salvationist, Phil comes from a family that is intrinsically linked with Salvation Army music making at its highest level, and whilst a student he was a member of the world-famous International Staff Band.
Phil is passionate about film music, and he can be heard on the following recent soundtracks: Harry Potter, Twilight – New Moon, The Pirates, Shrek, A Better Life, Rise of the Guardians, Beauty and the Beast, Angry Birds, 42 and The Monuments Men.
Helen Vollam – Trombone
Helen is Principal Trombone of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and is also a member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Bones Apart Trombone Quartet. She enjoys a busy and varied career combining orchestral playing, chamber music, solo work and teaching. Helen is the first woman to be appointed principal trombone of a London orchestra. 
She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and after graduating won the Woodwind & Brass Award and Philip Jones Memorial Brass Prize in the final of the Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition, and was the first trombone player to reach the competition’s final. 
In 2019 Helen premiered Gavin Higgins’ new trombone concerto ‘Book of Miracles’, written specially for her, with the BBCSO at the Barbican in London. In 2022 Helen was awarded ‘Player of the Year’ by the British Trombone Society.
Helen has played on many film soundtracks, including Harry Potter, Inception, Star Wars – The Attack of the Clones, Iron Man 2, Final Fantasy, The Ides of March, Miss Potter, Brave, The Lost King and No Time To Die.
The masterclass is free to attend but donations to a retiring collection will be gratefully received.