Duncan Wilson - Professional Music Director
Duncan Wilson grew up playing in brass bands in Cambridgeshire and went on to study trombone at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. On graduation, he was offered the sub-principal trombone position with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra with whom he played for five years, with residencies in Aix-En-Provence, Lyon, Milan and Tokyo. Tired of touring, Duncan left the orchestra to pursue freelance work in the UK. Since 2001, he has been in regular demand with many orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic. Further afield, Duncan regularly appears as guest principal trombone with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Session work has included Sarah Brightman, Hayley Westenra, Ravi Shankar and Dr. Who!
Keeping his brass band roots, Duncan was Solo Trombone for the G.U.S. Band and has regularly guested with many other bands, including Grimethorpe and Brighouse and Rastrick. After spells conducting Somersham Town Band and Soham Comrades, Duncan accepted to invitation to be the Music Director of Kidlington Concert Brass in 2010, a position he has enjoyed every minute of.
Keeping his brass band roots, Duncan was Solo Trombone for the G.U.S. Band and has regularly guested with many other bands, including Grimethorpe and Brighouse and Rastrick. After spells conducting Somersham Town Band and Soham Comrades, Duncan accepted to invitation to be the Music Director of Kidlington Concert Brass in 2010, a position he has enjoyed every minute of.
Ben Ruffer - Resident Music Director
Ben Ruffer was born in Beckenham, Kent in 1985. Having moved to St. Leonards-on-Sea he started learning violin aged 6 followed by piano a year later. In 1993, Ben successfully passed an audition for Chichester Cathedral Choir where he spent the subsequent five years singing at eight services a week, it was during this time that he started to learn Trumpet and Organ.
Upon leaving Chichester, he joined the Junior Department, Trinity College of Music, London where he studied violin under Adrian Dunn.
Ben joined the Army as a musician in 2003 and having completed his training at ATR, Winchester and The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall he was posted to The Band of The Life Guards where he undertook the Mounted Dutyman’s Course. Over the next nine years Ben took part in every State Ceremonial event both as a band member and State Trumpeter including the Royal Wedding, Diamond Jubilee, Household Cavalry Musical Ride, State Visits, Diplomatic Receptions, Festival of Remembrance and the Queen’s Birthday Parade, where he was the Field Officer’s Trumpeter twice. He toured Europe extensively and has also been to South Korea and Nigeria.
In September 2013, Ben returned to Kneller Hall to study as a member of the inaugural one-year Musical Direction Course; this replaced the three-year Bandmaster Course. In August 2014 he qualified as a Bandmaster, winning the Worshipful Company of Musicians medal for beset overall student, and was assigned to The Band of The Royal Armoured Corps. During his time with the Band, Ben deployed to Afghanistan, the Republic of South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. In March 2017, Ben was posted back to the cavalry this time as Bandmaster of The Band of the Household Cavalry.
Ben is married to Claire and they have two children together, Felicity and Douglas. He loves all things countryside focusing on shooting including working their two dogs, Autumn and Willow plus he is a keen skier with a passion for Military History.
Upon leaving Chichester, he joined the Junior Department, Trinity College of Music, London where he studied violin under Adrian Dunn.
Ben joined the Army as a musician in 2003 and having completed his training at ATR, Winchester and The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall he was posted to The Band of The Life Guards where he undertook the Mounted Dutyman’s Course. Over the next nine years Ben took part in every State Ceremonial event both as a band member and State Trumpeter including the Royal Wedding, Diamond Jubilee, Household Cavalry Musical Ride, State Visits, Diplomatic Receptions, Festival of Remembrance and the Queen’s Birthday Parade, where he was the Field Officer’s Trumpeter twice. He toured Europe extensively and has also been to South Korea and Nigeria.
In September 2013, Ben returned to Kneller Hall to study as a member of the inaugural one-year Musical Direction Course; this replaced the three-year Bandmaster Course. In August 2014 he qualified as a Bandmaster, winning the Worshipful Company of Musicians medal for beset overall student, and was assigned to The Band of The Royal Armoured Corps. During his time with the Band, Ben deployed to Afghanistan, the Republic of South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. In March 2017, Ben was posted back to the cavalry this time as Bandmaster of The Band of the Household Cavalry.
Ben is married to Claire and they have two children together, Felicity and Douglas. He loves all things countryside focusing on shooting including working their two dogs, Autumn and Willow plus he is a keen skier with a passion for Military History.
