Francis Bushell

An alumnus of RCMJD, Francis is a bassoonist and conductor who studied at Robinson College Cambridge and the Royal College of Music where he was a Leverhulme Arts Scholar, a Drake Calleja Trust scholar, a postgraduate award holder at Help Musicians UK, and was supported by Countess of Munster Trust. He began his musical training as a chorister at St. John’s College, Cambridge under the direction of Andrew Nethsingha. Francis has extensive experience as a soloist, as well as an orchestral and chamber musician. 
Francis is an award-winning bassoonist who is passionate about bringing the bassoon to wider audiences. Studying with Sarah Andrew at RCMJD, he won the Gordon Turner Competition, was awarded the Sally Wainwright Woodwind Prize and was a Woodwind Finalist in BBC Young Musician 2018. At Cambridge, Francis took Second Prize in Cambridge University Musical Society Concerto Competition and performed Rossini Bassoon Concerto conducted by Jonathan Bloxham. At RCM, where he studied with Emily Hultmark, Joost Bosdijk, and Andrea de Flammineis, Francis regularly played principal in the RCM Symphony Orchestra and participated in masterclasses by Ole Kristian Dahl, Matthew Wilkie, and Julie Price. He won a position on the RCM/BBC Symphony Orchestra Pathway scheme. In 2023 Francis won the RCM Bassoon Prize and the RCM Concerto Competition and performed Strauss Duet-Concertino with RCM Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano. Francis has a firm grounding as a chamber musician, both as a player and a coach, and now plays with Sylva Winds. Francis has much experience as an orchestral player having played with a variety of groups including the Philharmonia and is now a member of Southbank Sinfonia. Francis has played solo at the Wigmore Hall, Royal College of Music, Gray’s Inn, and various Cambridge Colleges. 
As a conductor, Francis has experience in opera, orchestral, and choral conducting. Whilst still a student, Francis led opera performances and conducted student orchestras in Cambridge, including winning the Cambridge University Symphony Orchestra conducting competition. At RCM he led ensembles, including RCM Wind Ensemble. Since, he has conducted the Colne Philharmonic and founded Campanile Chamber Choir – a project-based chamber choir in London. Francis is Organist and Director of Music of Christ Church Streatham where he is keen to integrate all musical genres of the community. 
As a teacher, Francis has much expertise teaching in specialist music schools. The rarity and uniqueness of the instrument is what inspires his teaching, and he is keen to broaden the bassoon’s reputation. Through work at the Southbank Sinfonia, Francis has used the bassoon in music outreach projects. Francis is involved in ‘Sounding Out’, a charity providing free music lessons to underprivileged children in Canterbury.  

 

Faculties / departments: Junior Department

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