The Ulster Orchestra is delighted to welcome Wizz Bannan to the brass section as the new Principal Trombone No. 2, and wish her every success in her new role with the orchestra.

Wizz hails from the North East of England where she began her musical life as a young cornet player in the local brass band.

At the age of 15 she made the move to trombone and quickly took up the principal trombone seat of champioship section Easington Colliery Band, where she went on to win a number of prizes both at local solo contests and at regional brass band contests.

in 2011, Wizz moved to Manchester to study trombone at the Royal Northern College of Music, generously supported by the John Fewkes (Leicestershire) Instrumentalist Scholarship Fund. Here, she received tuition from world class trombone players including Simon Cowen, Roger Cutts, Jiggs Wigham, Roger Holliday and Chris Houlding.

During her time at the RNCM, Wizz successfully auditioned and won places for a number of projects and training schemes including being a member of the European Youth Orchestrat (2013 - 20214).

After graduating, Wizz remained in the North West area, working as a freelance musician, with professional orchestras and ensembles across the UK and Europe.

Away from the trombone, Wizz enjoys cooking and baking, going on dog walks with her eight year old lurcher, and trying to keep up with her three year old daughter.

You can catch Wizz's debut as a member of the Ulster Orchestra in the Young Romantics concert on Thursday 30 January at The Braid in Ballymena, and on Friday 31 January at the Ulster Hall, Belfast.