Biography

Fêted by The Times (London) as an artist of ‘high intelligence and immaculate professionalism,’ Huw Morgan has emerged in recent years as one of Britain’s leading young musical talents. With a repertoire ranging from the earliest works of the baroque trumpet to the most demanding contemporary concerti, Huw’s unique artistry and musicianship has been acclaimed throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and North America.

Born in South Wales in 1987, Huw began his musical education on the trumpet aged seven, presenting his first recital four years later. At the age of fourteen he won a scholarship to study with John Dickinson and Murray Greig at Chetham’s School of Music, where he won all the major prizes. Huw is currently the recipient of a full scholarship from the Royal Academy of Music, continuing his studies with Professor James Watson, Mark David, Robert Farley and Howard Snell. A regular prize-winner at national and international level, Huw’s accolades include third prize in the Texaco Young Musician of Wales (2003), Brass Winner and Concerto Finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year (2006), and the Drummond Sharp Prize (2008). Honoured with awards by the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund, EMI Music Sound Foundation and a prestigious Hattori Foundation scholarship, Huw was the youngest ever winner of the International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition (2005), completing a rare double by becoming the youngest winner of the ITG Orchestral Competition in 2008. He is also the recipient of both the LRSM and LRAM awards.

In frequent demand as a soloist, Huw has given concerto performances together with the Northern Sinfonia (Yan Pascal Tortelier & Thomas Zehetmair), Hamburg Camerata (Max Pommer), Cardiff Philharmonic (Michael Bell) and Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra (Stephen Threlfall), to name but a few. He has also appeared at international festivals throughout the UK and abroad including Cheltenham, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, BASBWE, Trømso and Rainbow21 (Japan), broadcasting regularly on both national radio and television. Recital work has included concerts at St. David’s Hall (Cardiff), The Sage (Gateshead), Wigmore Hall (London) and St. George’s (Bristol). A passionate exponent of contemporary music, Huw has commissioned and premièred works by Eric Ewazen, Hugh Brunt and Luke Burke, and most recently gave the world première performance as soloist in Leif Segerstam’s Symphony No. 173 with the RAM Concert Orchestra, conducted by the composer. 
 
A committed orchestral musician, Huw has worked with the LSO, Philharmonia, Hallé, BBC Philharmonic and City of London Chamber Orchestra, under conductors including Gergiev, Muti, Rattle, Davis and Harding. He has performed as principal trumpet with the London Contemporary Orchestra, Britten-Pears Orchestra, University of London Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia Cymru, and for three years held the principal trumpet chair in the National Youth Orchestra (where he won the John Fletcher Award). In 2005 Huw was appointed the youngest ever trumpeter in the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. In addition to performing as co-principal in the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra (Japan, 2007), Huw has performed with the Banff Festival Orchestra (Canada), and has been invited to tour with the European Union Youth Orchestra.

Chamber music activities include contemporary group Radius, the National Youth Symphonic Brass Wales and as a founder member of both QuintEssence and The Brass Collective; in this medium he has toured Romania, performed at the Royal Festival Hall, Grange Park Opera, Royal Society of Arts and St Martin-in-the-Fields, given concerts for HRH Prince of Wales and HRH Earl of Wessex and appeared on the ITV series My Favourite Hymns. An eclectic range of collaborations has seen Huw perform as lead trumpet with the award-winning Chetham’s Big Band, broadcast on The Daily Politics Show (BBC TV), feature as solo trumpeter in the annual Ascension Day Service and figure alongside veteran entertainer Bruce Forsyth! One of the youngest members in the inaugural LSO Brass Academy, Huw has also worked with some of the world’s finest players, including Håkan Hardenberger, Jens Lindemann, Eric Aubier, Rex Richardson and Alison Balsom.
   
An accomplished pianist, Huw gained his Performance Diploma aged thirteen, whilst under the tutelage of Vanessa Latarche in London. At Chetham’s he studied with Bernard Roberts, where he was a finalist in the 2005 European Beethoven Piano Society Competition. Away from performing, Huw enjoys travel, sports and politics, and was Head Boy at Chets. He is also a regular contributor to the Brass Forum website and the Brass Herald publication, and is Brass Tutor at Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford.  

Future engagements include a concerto tour with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, a return to the Wigmore Hall, and recitals at Kings Place London and the Bridgewater Hall, under the auspices of the Manchester Mid-Day Concerts Society.