ABOUT

Rob Bushnell has enjoyed many successes to date. Whether composing, arranging, conducting or typesetting, his abilities and talents encompass a large range of subjects and disciplines. After starting to learn the piano at the age of 5 and the cornet aged 7, Rob started to study scores and decided to give composing “a go” at the age of 8. His first success came when, aged 14, he was asked to compose a march for his local band, which (a year later) was released on CD. Four years later, as a member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force Band and Corps of Drums, his compositions were selected for performances at the 10th Rorkes Drift Concert and the Royal Military School of Music, Knellar Hall. All of this, and much more, has lead to Rob to produce hundreds of pieces for a large variety of ensembles, which have been performed the world over.

Brought up playing in brass bands and military bands, he studied composition at college with Ian Schofield and at university with Prof. Philip Wilby, Dr. Michael Spencer and Dr. Emily Howard. During his time at the latter, a fortuitous conversation led to him working as a music advisor to some of the best conductors and brass bands in the world (with many qualifying for the National Championship Finals of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall). More recently, he has done arrangements for the National Young Orchestra of Great Britain and his composition '...and has forgotten the gift.' was recorded by the A4 Brass Quartet for their debut CD Mists of the Mountains. Rob's music can be found on a number of streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube.

As a typesetter, Rob works closely with Andrew Wainwright and BrookWright Music, as well as checking his own music. Most recently, he has worked on the All Tuned Up books, a collection of 120 famous tunes for all occasions (for flexible ensembles of brass and woodwind).

As a conductor, Rob started whilst at the Army Cadet Force, continuing at University under Dr. Eno Koço, with his first contest being the North of England Regionals in March 2011 after being asked by his friend, Duncan Beckley, to replace him as the conductor of Wansbecks Ashington Colliery Band with only a week's worth of rehearsals. He is not currently taking an ensemble on a permanent basis but does work freelance. 

As a performer, Rob has played across Europe with a multitude of groups and ensembles, from brass bands to symphony orchestras, military bands to pit orchestras, at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, RMA Sandhurst and the Menin Gate. He has had the honour of performing to various members of the Royal Family, has performed live on BBC radio and has even appeared in a music video. Although he started his musical life on cornet (and piano), it is now normal to find Rob at the back of an ensemble in the percussion section.

Rob has a first class BSc Mathematics and Music (Hons) from the University of Leeds where he received the highest mark in his year for music analysis and full marks for his final year composition for large orchestra. For 3 years, he was also a producer and editor with the UK’s leading location-recording company, Direct Recording Services Ltd. When not doing something musical, Rob is a keen SCUBA diver and enjoys spending time with his wife, children and cats.