Paul Higgs

Paul Higgs is renowned as one of the UK’s leading trumpet players and composers.

He has had an extensive musical career in many fields including performing, composing and arranging music for film, TV and theatre. At 14 he joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, in which he played a major part until he was 25. He mainly played trumpet, but also piano, guitar and bass guitar. He was the band’s composer and arranger, with his own personal style emphasising lyrical melodies.

After a short stint in the theatres of the West End he became a Musical Director for the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, where he stayed for many years. He has performed with luminaries including Sir Peter Maxwell Davis, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Johnny Dankworth, Rosemary Clooney, Lulu, Tony Hatch, John Williams, Nancy Wilson and Shorty Rodgers.

His work with artist Mel Brimfield has been a creative development in the area of conceptual art. Since 2008 he has collaborated with her on several of her pieces. In 2012 Mel was commissioned to create an artwork for the Olympics, for the Government Art Collection, called 4’ 33” (Prepared Pianola for Roger Bannister) for which Paul composed the music. It is now permanently on tour with the Government Art Collection.

He has also performed in major concert venues around the world, such as the Royal Festival Hall, the Schubert Theatre (USA), Berlin Concert Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, The Stables and Ronnie Scott’s, and is frequently to be seen performing in jazz clubs around the country.