On leaving the Royal Northern College of Music in 2000, Gavin returned to the Midlands to work as a freelance trumpet player working with orchestras such as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and in theatres around the UK.
Having grown up in the Salvation Army, Gavin has always had a keen interest in Brass Bands. He is proud to be a member of the International Staff Band of the Salvation Army with whom he plays Solo Cornet and has regularly featured as a soloist. He has also performed with renowned bands such as the Black Dyke Band and Brighouse and Rastrick, as well as winning the National Brass Band Championships at the Royal Albert Hall with the Cory Band.
As a conductor Gavin is the Bandmaster of the Birmingham Citadel Band, one of the Salvation Army’s most well-known UK brass bands, and he often works as a Music Theatre MD. He is privileged to serve on the staff of the Salvation Army’s National Music School (UK) where he conducts one of the brass bands and he has also visited other Salvation Army Music Schools to direct Brass Bands in the USA and in Europe.
Gavin is currently Director of Music at Stafford Grammar School; an independent school in Staffordshire with a fine music department that performs over 35 concerts each year. Previously Gavin taught in the several independent schools as a Head of Brass as well as at Universities and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department.
In addition to this he is also a keen composer and arranger, with his work being printed by several publishers.
Gavin is married to Stephanie and they have three children: Josie, Olivia and Molly. Their fourth child is due in September 2019.