British Trombone Society Award

The British Trombone Society (BTS) has awarded Dave Whitson, teacher of trombone at RGS, the honour of being named Trombone Teacher of the Year 2018.

David studied the trombone at the Royal Academy of Music where he met his wife Norma, a trumpet player. On leaving in 1976 he followed a freelance career working with London orchestras. At this time, the composer David Gow wrote a trombone concerto for him which David performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

He was appointed Co-Principal Trombone at English National Opera a few years later, managing to combine his work with the company and tour extensively with the English Brass Ensemble with whom he performed in nearly 50 different countries until his departure from ENO in 1987.

David teaches and coaches budding young students, many of whom are professional trombonists working all over the British Isles. Apart from his work at the Junior Academy, David is professor of trombone at the University of Surrey and teaches at RGS and Charterhouse School.

The British Trombone Society, formed in 1985, is a properly constituted association and registered Charity for trombonists, organised by a central committee with representation in all regions of the UK.