John Parkinson

French Horn

After playing French Horn in a number of Music Centre youth groups in Bolton, John took up undergraduate studies in music at Hull University. Prior to taking teaching qualifications he gained a Masters Degree in Music from the University of York and a Licentiate Diploma from Trinity College of Music, London. 

An active musician in and around the North-West, John has taught in a number of Bolton Secondary schools and been Head of Music at Turton School for the last 23 years. In addition to membership of Corus Brass John is principal Horn of Bolton Symphony Orchestra and regularly freelances with orchestral ensembles in the North West. 

John has always been a keen composer / arranger, regularly producing works for Corus. In the past he was the Composer in Residence to Wingates Brass Band and in this capacity arranged two suites of Michael Nyman’s film music for a Wingates CD in 2006. This project had the direct involvement of the composer and was Nyman’s first foray into the brass band world. These arrangements and other compositions by John have been performed across the country, in France, Norway and the USA and broadcast on BBC radio. 

John is married to Heather, a woodwind tutor with Bolton Music Service, and they have two daughters, Anna and Nadia.