Oliver Pooley is a freelance percussionist, based in London. With musical tastes as diverse as his instrumental talents, he has performed at the highest level in numerous musical settings. A keen orchestral musician, he has performed with a number of professional orchestras, and has held trials for Principal positions with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He maintains a busy freelancing schedule around the UK, and has performed with orchestras such as the Halle Orchestra, Gabrieli Consort, Southbank Sinfonia, and Brandenburg Sinfonia, amongst others. He was also recently invited to audition for the Principal Percussion vacancy in the Leipzig Gewandhaus orchestra in Germany. Having played drum kit from an early age, Oliver is now performing professionally around London and the UK. This includes the recently concluded international tour of Mary Poppins, and the West End production of Les Miserables. As well as musical theatre, he plays drums and percussion in Belle and the Busker, as well as other international artists and various sessions. As a chamber musician, Oliver is the percussionist in award-winning Ensemble x.y, specialising in contemporary music, and in a duo with recorder player Tabea Debus, with whom he has performed recitals around London as well as abroad. Comfortable as a soloist, he has given concerto performances at the RNCM and Chester Cathedral, as well as recitals in prestigious venues around the country. Away from performing, Oliver is very passionate about education, and holds teaching positions with Camden and Hertfordshire Music Services, and The Campion School in Romford.