IAN LAING

I began playing at age seven in a Salvation Army brass band, moving up through school, city and county youth bands and orchestras.  At music college I was principal/lead trumpet of the college big band/jazz orchestra within a month of arriving, and midway through my second year I began ‘depping’ for my trumpet tutor in touring musicals and theatre productions, my first being 'The Pajama Game'.

 

I left college to pursue a career in music full time, playing on cruise ships and in orchestra pits for touring musicals, TV and radio sessions for the BBC and Granada TV, and recording sessions and live gigs with local bands.

 

Since leaving ‘the business’ I have continued to play in local function bands and I am first call for many am dram productions, the in-house band at Potters (pre Covid) and various ensembles in Norfolk and Suffolk.  I am a strong, confident player able to play lead trumpet in big bands, jazz in smaller ensembles, consistent and accurate lines in theatre shows and studios and will be the first to say 'yes' to any opportunity to play.