04/01/2026
The London Band Week LBW Masterclass Series hosted over 250 student musicians at London’s ExCeL for music masterclasses, clinics and workshops.
The series was free for all to attend, with clinicians from the United Kingdom and the United States of America fielding 18 educational sessions during the day long programme.
Pictured is Mark Upton, taking a high brass workshop.
Thank you, Mark!
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Mark Upton began learning the trumpet at the age of six encouraged by his parents who were both professional trumpet players. Growing up in Deal, Kent, Mark spent his early years playing in local Brass Bands, Orchestras and Big Bands and soon developed a passion for playing the trumpet. At the age of 17 Mark joined the Royal Marines Band Service where over the years he has honed his skill in many different musical genres. Mark has studied with the British trumpet legend, Derek Watkins and New York jazz trumpet player Richard Boulger amongst others which has led to a busy freelance career. He has recorded on over 25 albums including ‘Girl in Blue’ by the Session 8 Band and ‘I’m a Dreamer- Aren’t we all’ with international jazz singer Jill Keating. In 2012 Mark was endorsed by Eclipse Trumpets- the UK’s leading trumpet maker and worked closely with Leigh McKinney in developing an Artists Series model trumpet, now available at Eclipse Trumpets U.K. He has also been endorsed by Robinson’s Remedies lip renewal which has been formulated for musicians. In recent years Mark has been lead trumpet for the James Bond Tribute Band ‘Q The Music’, various West End Shows, The London Film Festival and has also performed with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, The Gordon Campbell Big Band and ‘Back to Basie’ Band.
Mark’s virtuosity and versatility has led him to give many masterclasses around the world including Japan, Singapore and the UK. He is a well-respected music educator and is currently an Instructor at the Royal Marines School of Music.
