The Percussion Department is pleased to welcome Rachel Gledhill and Matthew Brett, who join our world-class teaching staff.
Rachel and Matthew will join a faculty of teachers who inspire and support students to develop as musicians and people, deepening their technical and artistic understanding on their journey towards professional musicianship. The department blends exceptional technical training with the freedom to innovate and cultivate individual creative voices.
Percussion Lead, Calum Huggan commented: “The percussion department is thrilled to welcome Rachel and Matt to Trinity Laban. We’re excited to see the energy, ideas and expertise they’ll bring to an already vibrant, ambitious and innovative department, and can’t wait to see how their contribution helps shape the next chapter of percussion at Trinity Laban.”
Matthew Brett studied at the Royal Academy of Music, from which he holds both a Bachelor of Music (Honours) and Master of Arts (Distinction). Matthew is Section Leader Percussion with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he has held since 2024. He also enjoys an active freelance career across various disciplines including opera, ballet and musical theatre. He has performed with orchestras across the country, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra and Northern Ballet Sinfonia. Matthew is passionate about music education and works as a percussion tutor for Trinity Laban, the University of Liverpool and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He is also a mentor on the RLPO Emerging Musicians Fellowship.
Matthew Brett said: “I’m delighted to be joining the percussion department at Trinity Laban. I’m really looking forward to sharing my experience and enthusiasm for performance, and it is a real privilege to be working with the students to support them in developing their unique musical talent and potential.”
Born in Yorkshire, Rachel Gledhill began her musical life in the Brass Band world, at age 15 she was the first woman to be invited to join the Hammonds Sauce Works Brass Band. Rachel studied at the Royal College of Music and in 1998 won the silver medal in the Shell LSO Scholarship. After freelancing with a wide variety of orchestras and ensembles she joined the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) in 1992 and became Principal Percussion two years later. Whilst at the LPO, in addition to working with many of the great conductors on the concert platform and at Glyndebourne Opera, Rachel collaborated with leading jazz artists such as Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Ray Brown and Kenny Wheeler. She has also been involved in recordings for feature films including Lord of the Rings, Batman and Harry Potter. In 2011 Rachel was appointed Section Principal Percussion with the Royal Opera House. She now works as a freelance player in solo and ensemble performances in the UK and abroad combined with teaching at Trinity Laban and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Rachel is also a keen composer and has recently contributed to the ABRSM percussion syllabus.
Photo credit Matthew Brett: Gareth Jones