Robin Smith

Robin Smith, was the first Musical Director of Surrey Brass, and was influential during its founding. He is the third generation of his family to be a brass player; his grandfather was a renowned cornetist with the Gloucester Salvation Army and his father was Principal Trumpet with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.

Robin studied the trumpet at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Michael Laird, John Miller, Paul Cosh, and Ray Simmons. Today, he is a professional trumpeter in London and has performed with most of the major London symphony orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Opera House Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. Further afield he has worked with Guildford Philharmonic, The Ulster Orchestra and Orquesta Symphonica de Tenerife (yes, even they have an orchestra!!!).

As well as performing in West End shows such as She Loves Me, with Ruthie Henshaw and John Gordon-Sinclair, Robin has recorded with The Divine Comedy - the album 'Casanova' - and in Y2K had an underground hit 'Space Odyssey' in the dance clubs of New York and Japan with Os Dois Irmaos. His film appearances include BBC's 'The Fix'.

Robin is kept busy teaching the trumpet in Surrey and South London and specialises in coaching brass ensembles - currently he has five under his baton! On the lighter side he takes his Dixieland jazz band The Stateside Stompers around the country spreading the buzz of the New Orleans Dixie sound. The Stompers recently appeared in Kenneth Brannagh's film 'Shackleton'.

Although currently teaching for a short spell in the United Arab Emirates, Robin lives in South East London with his collection of wine, scuba-dives whenever possible, and is teaching the fourth generation of Smiths to play the trumpet, his half sister Katie who has just turned nine.