Rob - Marching Melodies
Rob Spalton
Freelance Musician, RAF Reservist and Website and Insights Manager for the Independent Society of Musicians
BMus (Hons) Music (Trumpet Performance)
Rob’s goal was to have a fulfilling, varied career. So far, he’s working in roles encouraging young people to pursue music, played world-famous festivals, performed at the King’s Coronation and opened the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“From a young age, I wanted to be a musician, and I knew I wanted a job that would be fun and fulfilling. As a teenager, all I wanted to do was listen to and play music so when I found out that attending a conservatoire and pursuing a music career was a possibility, I jumped at the opportunity.
I applied to a handful of conservatoires, and I was invited to auditions. It shocked me how different each institution felt. I knew I didn't want to study anywhere pretentious, although I wanted a serious music career. I wanted a welcoming environment to develop in my abilities. When I attended the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for my audition, the sense of community and warmth was palpable, so I was delighted to be offered a place.
Studying at the Conservatoire allowed me to develop my skills and spend almost all of my time practising, either alone or in a group. This taught me to be resilient and to always try new things, which meant I graduated with a portfolio of varied experiences. One of my highlights was performing at Cropredy Festival to around 20,000 people! Another was touring with a group around the Netherlands and performing with them at Glastonbury.
After graduation, I secured a job as a Visiting Music Teacher at Repton School, in Derbyshire, and within a year or so I was Head of Brass. I really loved working at this school, and it was a huge personal achievement for me, as growing up in Derbyshire I knew the school and thought I'd never be smart enough or talented enough to attend.
Outside of teaching, I was invited to join The Destroyers - a legendary group in the Birmingham folk scene. With The Destroyers, I toured a tonne of festivals and venues including Glastonbury, Boomtown, WOMAD and Shambala and even wrote music for and performed in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Since 2017 I've worked with a close friend from The Destroyers, who formed RBC's LEAP ensemble; an inspirational and brilliant project and group of people whose sole purpose is to inspire the next generation of musicians. LEAP reaches out to communities and musicians of all ages and abilities, across the UK and further afield to encourage young people's progression to conservatoires and improve music teaching in schools.
Holly, my wife, joined the RAF a few years after college as a flute player, and I moved down to London to join her. I found myself surrounded by an amazing community of military musicians who were all encouraging me to join. I love being a freelance musician, so I was unsure if the military lifestyle was for me. A friend suggested the Band of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, which was ideal for me as it allowed me to experience playing for the RAF whilst freelancing in my free time. I signed up in January 2022 and since have been afforded some incredible opportunities, I'm lucky to have performed at Her Late Majesty's Platinum Jubilee Pageant, Her Funeral, and the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
I now work as the Website and Insights Manager at the Independent Society of Musicians alongside being a freelance musician and meeting my RAF Reserve commitments.
Since studying at BCU, I've worked such a variety of roles across the country, yet everywhere I go, I meet and perform with other musicians from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. It's a privilege to be a part of the thriving creative community that gave me a start in my career.”
