Crispian Steele-Perkins

Steele-Perkins lives in Dorking, Surrey and is the father of Emma, Kate and Guy. He is also grandfather to William and Ben Mitchell and Isabelle and Zoe Jinadu. In 1961, he married Angela Helen Hall (d. 1991), and in 1995 he married Jane Elizabeth Mary Steele-Perkins.

Steele-Perkins picked up his first trumpet at the age of ten and progressed so quickly that just 6 years later he was playing with the English National Youth Orchestra. On graduating from the Guildhall School of Music, Steele-Perkins began his professional career with the Sadler's Wells Theatre (ENO) 1966–73, before performing with the London Gabrielli Brass Ensemble 1974–84, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1976–80, English Baroque Soloists 1980–91, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, The King's Consort, 1985–2009, and Retrospect Ensemble, 2009–present. Steele-Perkins's purity of tone and artistic subtlety have received critical acclaim for more than four decades now. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he played a key role in the growth of historically-aware trumpet playing, using a collection of more than 100 pre-1900 mechanised and 'natural' trumpets to bring a brighter, clearer sound to baroque performances. In 2004, Steele-Perkins received the Monk Award[2] for his significant and lifelong contribution to the field of early brass music.

In addition to his work with classical orchestras and period instruments, Steele-Perkins has developed a body of television and film work which is universally recognisable today – most famously he played the theme tune to the popular British television programme Antiques Roadshow, the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

Steele-Perkins has also accompanied some of the world's greatest singers, recording Handel's "Let the bright Seraphim" with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and "Eternal Source of Light Divine" with James Bowman. His more recent performances alongside Emma Kirkby, Lynn Dawson, Carolyn Sampson, Bryn Terfel and Lesley Garrett have cemented his international reputation as one of classical music's great ambassadors.

Well known for his enthusiasm and wit, Steele-Perkins is also a popular presenter giving recitals, lectures and masterclasses at schools, colleges and music venues around the world. He also provides advice and guidance when called upon by today's up-and-coming trumpeting talent.

• Eternal Source of Light Divine, with James Bowman and The King's Consort, Purcell, Hyperion Records CDA66315
• Classical Trumpet Concertos, with The King's Consort, Hyperion Records (2001) CDA67266
• The Well-Tempered Trumpet, with Leslie Pearson, LDR Recordings (1989) LDRCD 1006
• Music for Trumpet & Orchestra, Tafelmusik and Jeane Lamon, Sony Classical Records (1993) SK 53 365
• Let The Trumpet Sound, with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Carlton Classics (1996) 30366 00382
• The Regents Bugle, with Ian Partridge, Leslie Pearson and David Woodcock, Independent
• Let The Bright Seraphim, with Jeni Bern and The Handel Players, Carlton Classics (1998) 30366 01182
• Trumpets Ancient and Modern, with David Hill, Herald AV Publications (2000) HAVPCD 251
• Trumpet Concertos, with the English Chamber Orchestra, Alto (1986) ALTO 1063
• The Music of Gershwin, with Leslie Pearson, Independent (2007)

• Who's Who 2006, Publ: A&C Black Ltd., London, p. 2136, ISBN 0-7136-7164-5
• Crispian Steele-Perkins in Conversation with Bruce Duffie, 2001, website. Retrieved 1 June 2009
• Interview with Crispian Steele-Perkins, 2002, GFHandel.org. Retrieved 1 June 2009

Awards

• Historic Brass Society – Christopher Monk Award, 2004, website. Retrieved 4 November 2010

Published works

• Trumpet (Yehudi Menuhin Music Guides), Publ: Kahn & Averill, 2006, ISBN 978-1-871082-69-2

• Crispian Steele-Perkins Homepage
• Thaxted Music Festival