Trumpeter and music education advocate Katie Lodge has experience in recording, broadcasting, and live performance, shining as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. A member of Ibex Brass which won the Company’s Brass Ensemble Prize (Royal Academy of Music) in 2019, Katie reflects on how her time as a young artist has helped shape her career.

How has winning awards helped your career? 

Winning the Brass Ensemble Prize has opened so many doors both for myself and Ibex Brass. We have since been offered many opportunities to bid for performances at music societies and festivals, giving us the chance to connect with audiences and further refine our style. Receiving a prize from the Musicians’ Company in particular has been a great help – having such an established and trusted organisation supporting us makes life much easier!

What are the most memorable moments of the last five years? 

On a personal level, many of my most memorable moments of my five years as a Young Artist have come from workshops in community settings which have been facilitated by the company. I feel lucky to have twice worked with Thornhill Primary School to support their general musicianship education. A particular highlight was helping year 4 to compose and perform songs to their parents and caregivers. We had ten sessions together, allowing us to build a lot of trust and give a really passionate performance.

Watch Ibex Brass perform a Musicians’ Company #MiddayMusic concert 

How did you get involved in advocating for music education?

After years of feeling shy I finally applied for a music education elective while studying for my Master’s at the Royal Academy of Music. This gave me the opportunity to become a fellow with Open Academy (RAM’s Community and Participation department) and I loved my time there! I realised that there’s so much to be gained from talking to people and offering your time, and it’s even more meaningful when music is involved. I have since led education initiatives for Southbank Sinfonia, Orchestra for the Earth and Through The Noise and I am really enjoying this parallel path to my trumpet playing.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would advise my younger self to be proactive. It’s easy (and fun) to get swept away by amazing experiences, but it’s even better to also recognise what you can gain from them. Thinking about the future can be exciting as well as a little daunting!

Where do you see your career taking you? 

I see my career taking shape as a melting pot of all sorts of things, and I am very happy with that! I enjoy variety and spontaneity, so I am creating a career that involves performance, community work, and making things happen!

You can find out more about Katie Lodge at katielodge.com

Interview by Suzy Willmott