Shaun Hooke

Irish trumpeter

Whilst always a keen trumpeter, Shaun‘s initial career was in chemistry rather than music. Studies at the University of Oxford culminated in him being awarded a Doctorate in 1995. He went on to study trumpet at Birmingham Conservatoire with Johnathan Holland and soon embarked upon a busy freelance career, regularly playing with major UK orchestras such as the City of Birmingham Symphony and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestras and with English National Opera. Aversatile musician he also found himself working as lead trumpet with pop and rock musicians such as Alice Cooper.

Such diverse work stood him in good stead for his appointment in 2000 to the principal trumpet chair of the RTE Concert Orchestra in Dublin. One of the world‘s most versatile orchestras, the range of repertoire covered is immense. From Bach Cantatas to Grand Opera to the most challenging of Big Band repertoire, Shaun has found himself working with artists such as Westlife to name but a few.