Donal Bannister

Donal Bannister is the Principal Trombone of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He was born and grew up in Dublin and comes from a musical family of primarily brass players. He studied at Trinity College Dublin, where he was a scholar, and at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester New York. In 1987 he joined the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as co-principal trombone where he spent almost 20 years. In 2007 he moved the BBCNOW as section principal trombone. He also has a busy freelance career working as a guest with many of the UK’s leading orchestras (including the CBSO), chamber ensembles, and period instrument groups. In addition to his playing career Donal has always maintained a variety of other musical activities; teaching, arranging for brass, conducting, lecturing and writing about music.