This Cultural Life Alison Balsom
Sep 11, 2025
In this engaging chat, Alison Balsom, a celebrated classical trumpeter and OBE, shares the emotional journey of her career. She recalls the moment she first fell in love with the trumpet and the profound influence of icons like Freddie Mercury and Dizzy Gillespie. Alison discusses the challenges of limited trumpet repertoire and her efforts in commissioning new works. As she prepares for her final performance at the Last Night of the Proms, she reflects on her transition to new creative pursuits, including design and painting.
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Trevor Pinnock’s Brandenburgs Changed Her
- Alison's uncle gave her Trevor Pinnock's Brandenburgs on cassette and the harpsichord-led performance gave her goosebumps and a hunger for early music.
- She later worked with Pinnock, calling him a 'tour de force' who conjures focused, charismatic performances.
A Teacher Who Opened Music Theory
- Adrian Jacobs, Alison's middle-school theory teacher, gave early weekend lessons that transformed her understanding of music.
- His patient teaching let her move from knowing nothing about theory to enjoying and trusting the learning process.
A Barbican Moment That Sparked Ambition
- Seeing Håkon Hardenberger play the Hummel at the Barbican aged ten showed Alison the trumpet's solo potential and sparked her ambition.
- The experience combined awe and terror: she wanted to be on stage but found the idea simultaneously frightening.