Historical New Job for James

Congratulations to recent bass trombone graduate James Wigfull on his new job, performing with His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts.

The internationally acclaimed group of virtuoso wind players – who specialise in playing Renaissance and Baroque music in historically appropriate styles on original instruments – is known as ‘the pre-eminent group of its kind.’

James and Jeremy West at the recording of the BBC Radio 3 Early Music Show

James developed a strong interest in Early Music and historical brass performance during his time at Royal Welsh College, and was the Bass Sagbutt (Renaissance trombone) player in the RWCMD Brass Consort (main image), directed by Jeremy West, who is also an RWCMD Honorary Fellow.

“I was introduced to the sagbutt in my first year, when I was very lucky to be a part of Adam Woolf’s ‘Venetian Virtuosi’ concert at Llandaff Cathedral,” says James. “After the success of this concert, Kevin Price (Head of Brass) developed more opportunities for Brass players to play this early repertoire. This gave me the opportunity to work with Jeremy West, who gave me a greater insight into this wonderful world of repertoire. Over the next three years, Kevin organised various concerts, collaborating with Jeremy and other specialist musicians, including Maggie Faultless and Martin Ennis.”

Over the course of four years in the cornett and sackbutt group at College, I was thrilled to see James pick up the ball and run with it from the very start. Since graduating in 2014 he continued his upward trajectory and is now playing out of his skin; this is wonderful to witness.”
Jeremy West, cornett player with HMSO, and Fellow of RWCMD

Since they formed in 2011, the RWCMD consort have performed at many prestigious venues including King’s Cambridge Chapel, St John’s College Chapel and Girton College Great Hall Cambridge, and evensong with Robert King at Southwark Chapel, London.

“Jeremy West’s musical genius, professional intuition and personal generosity have combined to create a unique and outstanding ensemble which contributes strength and depth to RWCMD Brass and has led to professional opportunities at the highest level for our students”
Kevin Price, Head of Brass