Paul Sharp

BMus (Hons)

Paul Sharp was a foundation scholar of the RCM, graduating in joint first study trumpet and natural trumpet and winning the Ernest Hall memorial prize for trumpet. As a player of modern and historic trumpets, his playing career has spanned the full spectrum from contemporary music with the London Sinfonietta to performing the music of Giovanni Gabrieli on period instruments in St Mark’s Basilica, Venice with the Gabrieli Consort. 

His interest in historic instruments evolved through his study at the RCM with Michael Laird, Mark Bennett and Jeremy West. As an undergraduate, Paul performed in the opening season of  the rebuilt Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. In 2000, he played in many of the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage concerts with Sir John Eliot Gardiner and subsequently has performed regularly with the English Baroque Soloists including in recordings of the Bach’s B Minor Mass and Magnificat. 

Paul has performed as principal trumpet with the English Baroque Soloists, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Gabrieli, Academy of Ancient Music and the King’s Consort. As principal trumpet of the Dunedin Consort, he has recorded Bach’s B Minor Mass, Magnificat, Christmas Oratorio and Orchestral Suites. He has recorded trumpet obligati alongside James Bowman, Iestyn Davies, Robin Blaze, Ian Bostridge, Elizabeth Watts and Mary Bevan. 

As an orchestral player, he has performed as guest principal trumpet with the Philharmonia, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and András Schiff’s ensemble, Cappella Andrea Barca. He has played for such eminent conductors as Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel (complete Mahler Symphonies, Philharmonia), Gustavo Dudamel, Andris Nelsons, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Sir Simon Rattle. 

Paul was appointed Professor of Natural Trumpet at the RCM in 2014 and is Head of Brass at Westminster School. 

Faculties / departments: Historical Performance

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