Mark Butler

Mark is a PhD student at the University of Birmingham, and a freelance trombone player. He plays with Elegant Entertainment's Keep Off The Brass, a three-piece brass-and-DJ-outfit who hold a Saturday night residency at Marco Pierre White's restaurant in Birmingham. He is also a member of Birmingham-based function bands Charlie and the Funk Factory and the Notochords, both of which gig regularly up and down the country, and plays with Symphonica, a 20-piece orchestra and DJ. He has been principal trombone of the university's Philharmonic Orchestra and ten-piece Symphonic Brass ensemble for the past five years, and has played on two successful European tours with the university orchestra, performing in venues around Amsterdam in 2016, and Tuscany in 2017. With Symphonic Brass, conducted by Stephen Roberts, he plays professionally for three weeks per year at the University's Degree Congregations. He also holds the first trombone chair in the University Big Band, an outfit directed by Jonathan Silk, who have played with renowned jazz greats Bobby Shew, Mark Lockheart and Stan Sulzmann. Prior to going to University he played with Wantage Silver Band, competing in the top (Championship) section of the UK's brass band contest scene.