Grahame King
Percussion Tutor (Timpani)
Grahame has been Principal Timpanist with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, the orchestra of the Birmingham Royal Ballet since 1998. Additionally, he regularly plays as guest Principal Timpanist with most of London’s top orchestras, touring extensively throughout Europe, America and Asia.
On the concert platform and in recording studios Grahame has worked with musicians such as Ashkenazy, Gatti, Menuhin, Maazel, Masur, Pavarotti, Rattle, Salonen and Temirkanov.
On the commercial side he has performed with artists including Madonna, and Roger Taylor.
Timpani solo pieces have included performances with the Ulster Orchestra in Panufnik's 'Concertino for Timpani, Percussion & String Orchestra'. In 2009 he premiered in a concerto written by composer Siobhan Lamb. This concerto was written for Grahame and award winning jazz trumpet soloist Gerard Presencer.
He studied at the Royal Academy of Music, having lessons from the legendary James Blades.