Royal Forest of Dean Orchestra

Megan Jackson

Megan Jackson is a fourth year percussionist currently completing her final year at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama under the guidance of Patrick King, Owen Gunnell and Henry Baldwin. Since a young age, she has had a keen interest in music, picking up her first pair of sticks at the age of eight. She was heavily involved in County Music throughout her teenage years, gaining experience on tours abroad to Europe, including France and Italy. This was furthered by tours with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, attending a tour to Germany at the age of fifteen. Megan also performs with the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra, Brecknock Sinfonia, Orchestra Cymru and the City of Cardiff Symphony Orchestra.
Megan is a firm believer in the value of participation in music. Throughout her experience working within musical education thus far, she has come to acknowledge and understand the large impact and benefits it can have on people of all ages and abilities. She has had the opportunity to work at the educational sports coaching camp – World Sports Ministries – as a team leader, as well as lead and deliver a multitude of percussion workshops all over South Wales.

Jemma Sharp

Jemma is an avid events performer with a passion for providing everyone she can with unforgettable musical experiences. From countless performances in care homes and schools with her percussion quartet and orchestral experiences in prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, to solo recitals and concerto performances in the Slovak Radio Concert Hall, Bratislava and beyond, Jemma is well experienced and equipped to take on any performance.

Whilst studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Jemma reached the final of the college’s Concerto Competition in her first term, going on to win the first Ev-entz Solo Percussion Prize the year after. She is also a Live Music Now artist and works in conjunction with young and upcoming composers to create new and exciting repertoire for percussion.

Jemma has played for many weddings, personal events and corporate events and also works as a composer and arranger, with previous clients including O Duo and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She is a passionate teacher and tutors pupils as young as four years of age and is always working on new music and workshops for young performers.

Jemma Sharp

Emily, who has been a commended finalist in the Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year contest, has been studying in Lübeck as part of her course at the Royal Academy of Music.

The former Pate’s Grammar School pupil has played in the National Children’s and Youth Orchestras and was a member of the Junior Academy. Now living in London, she regularly plays with the Academy Symphony Orchestra with Oliver Knussen, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, as well as freelancing in and around London.

Christopher Gibbons

After completing his BMus at Cardiff University, Christopher Gibbons went on to gain an MMus in solo performance at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), graduating in 2016 with a distinction.

Since then, 26-year-old Christopher, who lives in Yorkley Wood, has built an increasingly busy schedule as a teacher and freelance musician.

As a clarinettist, Christopher has performed with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Chipping Campden Festival Orchestra and Mahler Chamber Orchestra. He has played concerts in Germany, Italy and Croatia and regularly works around the UK with pianist Sandie Middleton.

As a conductor, Christopher leads Redland Wind Band in Bristol and directs the Pillowell Singers. He created Duality Winds in affiliation with Gloucestershire Music, and took this group of advanced young wind players to success at the national Music For Youth festival in Birmingham.

Christopher was a finalist in the RNCM concerto competition and also enjoys mixed medium performances. He took part in The Wave, a semi improvised performance in collaboration with Jonathan Dove and sculptor Tania Kovats at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry, and has also worked with current Master of the Queen’s Music Judith Weir.

He will be playing at the Royal Forest Of Dean’s Spring Concert on the 30th March 2019 at Newnham Church. We look forward to hearing him as soloist in Mozart’s iconic Clarinet Concert in A