Pro-Platform: David Childs interviews Chris Evans

David Childs catches up with Christopher Evans, former Brighouse and Rastrick tubist and, for the last 25 years, Principal Tuba of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Having cut your brass playing teeth in Shrewsbury during the early 70’s, can you tell us a little about those early years, your influences, and what led to you joining the famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band?

Shrewsbury in the 70's was a musical backwater for young brass players, so when visiting bands played in the park or local concert halls, it was a special occasion. The sight and sound of Harry Mortimer's Men O' Brass was absolutely wonderful and the Music Hall overflowed with their liquid sounds; I loved it. I joined the Bridgenorth Band, who, for a few years, hosted the Brighouse and Rastrick Band. My ambition was to play for this great band one day. Years later I did and it was a pleasure to sit alongside players such as John Gillam and Bob Childs.

When did you decide you wanted to become a professional musician? Do you feel your brass band background helped or hindered your progression to orchestral tubist?

Hearing John Fletcher and the PJBE inspired me to study at the Royal Academy of Music. My brass band background helped enormously with my subsequent career. Primarily it gave me a love of music making. Playing in brass bands develops a sense of musical awareness and ensemble, and fosters a desire to improve. When I was young I wanted to play like Lyndon Baglin, so I practised tirelessly. I imitated his ideas of phrasing, musical line and shape - qualities inherent in good brass band playing (great cornetists, like Garside and Gray did this so well). Whether it's a comet or an orchestral tuba, engaging the listener with our musical ideas is paramount.

I have a letter from Bert Sullivan that I have kept since I was thirteen. I wrote to ask for advice on euphonium technique. His response touched briefly on the subject but his principal message was, “…

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