 He later studied at the Royal College of Music with Geoffrey Gambold (bassoon) and John Burness (contra-bassoon), who were principals with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the time.He was a member of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 1995, and became Principal Contra-Bassoon with the Philharmonia Orchestra in 1997.He is Professor of Basson at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.