Graduate Oliver Browne’s New Job in South Africa

Graduate Oliver Browne has just won the position of Principal Tuba of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, based in Durban, South Africa.

“This new job means a lot to me as it’s very hard to make it in the music profession, especially on the tuba, and I feel very lucky to have this opportunity. I’m very excited about moving to South Africa, it’s going to be an amazing experience starting a new life in a new country. I’m looking forward to being able to do what I love (music) for a living and also I’m looking forward to making lots of new friends.

I had a wonderful time at Royal Welsh College, and would like to particularly thank Nigel Seaman, who taught me throughout my time there. He was a huge inspiration to me during my studies.”

Oliver graduated from the Royal Welsh College in 2009. The many awards he received while studying here included the Leonard and Marian Jones Distinguished Music Scholarship Prize, Enerst and Doris Haigh Memorial Award and the Linda Mowat Brass Prize He also played in the multi-award-winning Cory Band (the resident band for the Royal Welsh College) and worked on College professional placement schemes with Welsh National Opera, while taking on freelance work with BBC National Orchestra of Wales. In his final year he also had a trial as Principal Tuba with Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

While studying as a postgraduate at London’s Royal College of Music, he won the Herbert Samuel Tuba Prize, and was awarded among others the HRH Prince of Wales Advanced Study Prize to support his studies.

Head of Brass Kevin Price commented, “Oliver is a great example of the way in which natural talent, good organisation and hard work pays off. We’ve remained in close contact since his graduation and I look forward to continued collaboration with him as he enters the professional world. “