Bass Trombonist Garrath Beckwith hails from Saddleworth, a musically rich area in the heart of the Pennine hills of Yorkshire.
Garrath is a former member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and has played for many of Europes leading Brass Bands: the world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band, the Yorkshire Building Society Band, the Williams Fairey band and BNFL amongst others.
Garrath is a proud graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he studied the bass trombone with Adrian Morris (Hallé Orchestra), Chris Houlding (Opera North), John Iveson (Philip Jones Brass Ensemble) and James Gourlay (International Tuba soloist). During his time at the RNCM Garrath performed in masterclasses for Joseph Alessi (New York Philharmonic), Ian Bousfield (LSO/Vienna Philharmonic), Ben Van Dijk (Rotterdam Philharmonic), Dave Taylor (NY Recording Artist), Doug Yeo (Boston Symphony) and Roger Bobo (International Tuba Soloist).
Upon graduating from the RNCM Garrath has led a busy and diverse musical life performing within many musical genres with many different ensembles. He has worked with the Hallé Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Swan, Hallé Brass 10tet, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Andy Prior Big Band, Underdog Ensemble, Remix Ensemble (Portugal), Holland America Cruise Line Big Band, The Royal Variety Performance Orchestra in 2005 (Cardiff), 2007 (Liverpool) & 2009 (Blackpool), Dame Shirley Bassey's Orchestra, Ensemble11, Sinfonia Cymru, Welsh Chamber Orchestra, Bluejuice Big Band, Georgina Bromlow Big Band, and the Nelson Riddle Tribute Orchestra, the Equale Trombone Quartet and the Northern Trombone Quartet. Professional Theatre Orchestra credits include - Disneys: Beauty and the Beast, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and 42nd Street as well as performing in the BBC Voice of Music Theatre Orchestra.
Closer to home Garrath taught brass instruments for local education authorities and has previously worked as a cover trombone tutor at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music, in Manchester.
Garrath has also previously worked as a guest brass tutor for MeninVonk music in Dublin, Ireland. In 2010 Garrath was awarded the PGCE music teaching qualification by the Huddersfield University and his current role is the Head of Music at Saddleworth School. In 2016 Garrath was awarded the Outstanding Achievement award by One Community UK at the annual Oldham Education awards for presenting outstanding opportunities for young people.
Outside of the classroom Garrath is the Bass trombonist and ensemble manager with Austonley Brass and the bass trombonist of Flat Cap Brass a funky, poppy, drum n brass seven piece band from Yorkshire. Garrath is also the bass trombonist of the Brigantes Orchestra - Sheffield’s exciting professional symphony orchestra.
Passionate about the future of brass playing in the North of England and beyond, Garrath is committed to delivering high quality brass tuition to his students building excellent technique, designing practice programmes, setting / achieving / realising musical goals and working on a variety of repertoire in preparation for examinations (ABRSM and Trinity) and conservatoire auditions.
