Bill Stoneham

Bill began playing the trumpet at the age of eight under the guidance of his father, going on to complete a Bachelor of Music at Birmingham Conservatoire, UK in 2003. During his education he has been tutored by acclaimed trumpet players from the UK, Sweden, Finland, Russia, USA, New Zealand and Australia.

In 2004 he emigrated to New Zealand and shortly after took up a position in the Band of the Royal New Zealand Navy, during which he was also the principal trumpet with the Auckland Youth and New Zealand Youth Orchestras. Two years later he decided to spread his wings further and established a freelance career based in Auckland. Bill has been invited to perform with all New Zealand's major orchestras on many occasions, in particular the Auckland Philharmonia and Hamilton's Opus Orchestra. He has also performed with many orchestras in Australia, including the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

In 2011 Bill made the move from the back of the orchestra to the front of the stage and hasn't looked back since. His solo career has seen him touring the length and breadth of New Zealand, performing with singers, organists, pianists and orchestras. He has been broadcast on live television and radio numerous times and at the 2013 Nelson Winter Festival was described by the Nelson Mail as, “trumpet player extraordinaire”. 2016 sees Bill undertake two overseas tours, firstly Australia and then the UK later in the year. Bill plays on instruments by Antoine Courtois & Scherzer and enjoys the ongoing support of Auckland Band Instruments.