There was an interesting item on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour featuring trumpeter Alison Balsom. She does amazing things, including playing quite a lot of music originally written for other instruments (e.g. Paganini's Caprice) that sounds technically amazing. I'm very tempted by her album if I can get hold of it! She's playing in Hyde Park on Saturday as part of the Proms in the Park events around the UK.

I'm listening to the interview now and it sounds good - as the programme is called Woman's Hour obviously it's a little female-orientated and there's a bit about the whole "tall, blonde female trumpeter" thing but there's quite a lot of interesting discussion about the music too and I loved hearing her playing. Just go to the page about the Alison Balsom item and click "Listen to this item". Hope other people enjoy it as well

Alison Balsom is a great advert for female playing in a traditionally male dominated field. She is a great example of the fact that women can play the trumpet or any other brass instrument just as well as, or better than, men. If you want it, her album is easily available on Amazon (or was last time I checked.) She was a finalist (I believe) on BBC Young Musician of the Year a few years ago.

Stephen

I don't like the way she blames brass bands for the way the trumpet is associated with males and its macho image, the trumpet was a millitary instrument played by men since the time of the egyptians, but, looking past her views to the player she is, she is brilliant, i loved the rondo ala turc she played!