Originally from Inverness, Scotland, Neil is a first year Psychology student at the University of Auckland and began playing the Tuba at 13 at Orewa College.
Playing throughout his schooling life in school bands and orchestras, Neil gained Grade 8 with Distinction in 2015 and currently plays in the AYO and NZYSW. Neil also plays Trombone and Bass Guitar, and often plays the in the pit band of Centrestage Theatre productions. Neil has received mentoring from both the NZSO and APO in his tuba studies, which have carried him to where he is today; waiting 40 minutes for his first note in Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique.
As a performer, Neil has also won Stage Challenge with Orewa College in 2015, and performed as a lead at the National Sheila Wynn Shakespeare Festival. In his down time, Neil enjoys tramping, long walks on the beach and complaining about awful orchestral tuba parts.