 Gavin began playing percussion at the age of 11 whilst living in Norway. He was born in the UK but moved to Scandinavia as his father was offered work as Conductor with several ensembles in the west of Norway. He established himself quickly as a player with potential, with the newspapers describing him as “A young man who threw himself about such great enthusiasm he resembled a ball of elastic bands!”. Gavin is the youngest ever player to play with the Molde Symphony Orchestra, and by the time he was 16 he had claimed his place as Principal Percussionist of the Vestfold Symphony Orchestra. With the latter Gavin worked with famous conductors including Dag Nilssen (Oslo Symphony Orchestra) and with famous soloists including Arve Telefsen (Violin). Aged 17, he was invited to ‘join’ the Royal Norwegian Navy Band for 3 weeks as a fully employed percussionist.
Gavin studied at the Royal Northern College of Music with Ian Wright, Graham Johns, Paul Patrick, Dave Hassell and Liz Gilliver, and at Salford University with Stephen Whibley. Whilst at the Royal Northern, he won the Lady Groves Award, and during his time at Salford University he won the Mortimer Performance Award for his final recital that was described as “Breathtaking” by the visiting examiner. In 2001 Gavin took part in the International Timpani Competition held in Paris and got to the semi-final stage.
He graduated in 2003 obtaining a First Class Honours Degree with a Distinction in Performance, and has since worked as a freelance Percussionist/Soloist. Gavin has held the position of Principal Percussionist with 2 of the world’s elite Brass Bands. Firstly the YBS Band, and now Grimethorpe Colliery Band, where he is featured as a soloist at all of their concerts. He has given master classes and recitals throughout the UK, and has performed with ensembles and as a soloist throughout the world in such prestigious halls as the Grieg Hall - Bergen, Stravinsky Hall - Montreux, Gasteig Hall - Munich, Palais des Beaux-Arts - Brussels, Symphony Hall - Birmingham and the Royal Albert Hall - London.
From 2003 until 2006 when he moved to South Wales, Gavin was the Head Percussion Tutor at the University of Salford. Last year he was interviewed and featured in the International Percussion Magazine ‘Rhythm Magazine’, and his book on reading tuned percussion music will be published in the spring of this year. Just before the New Year, Gavin was named principal percussionist of the 4barsrest Band of the Year, and ADAMS musical instruments recently asked him to become an ADAMS endorsee. www.gavinpritchard.net |
