(photo: Bill, aged 11, meeting his idol Eddie Calvert)

The Early Years …

Bill first discovered the trumpet aged 8 after spending his summer in hospital following a farming accident. His father asked what he wanted as a consolation prize and he requested a toy trumpet. His father brought home the real thing and after working out the purpose of the mouthpiece, he played “Stranger in Paradise” within 15 minutes (top of the Hit Parade in 1955!). By the following summer he was winning talent competitions along the East Coast (Clacton Band Pavilion and beyond) with “Cherry Pink” and “Oh Mein Papa”, moving up to “Holy City” some time later, which turned out to be a real money spinner!

As a Teenager …

Bill became a Junior Exhibitioner at the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 11 – two notable fellow students being Andrew Davis (now Sir) and Reg Dwight (now Elton John) as well as Tristan Fry, founder member of John Williams’ group ‘Sky’ and still tympanist of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. At the age of 12 Bill went on his first ever tour, to Norway with the Wicken Chamber Orchestra. He became Principal Trumpet with the Essex Youth Orchestra at 14 and at 16 he passed his LRAM and became a full-time student at the Academy.

Professional Career …

Bill has been at the top of his profession since he became a member of the Royal Opera House section at the age of 19, where he remained for the first 6 years of his career. He then spent a fantastic year as principal trumpet with the English National Opera, during which time the programming included the Ring, Mastersingers, Salome, Rosenkavalier and Tosca (all English language). He also worked in the West End with Jesus Christ Superstar for a year, before and after his time with ENO.

Bill’s first engagement with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields was in 1974, with the B minor Mass – the trumpet section, led by the incomparable John Wilbraham, with Michael Laird on second. There followed a happy association with his lifelong friend and colleague Michael Laird. Bill played with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields for 34 years, 18 as Principal Trumpet.

In 1981 Bill joined the BBC Symphony Orchestra as co-principal and within 6 months rose to the principal position, which he held for 25 years. During his tenure he played in some 20 Last Night of the Proms concerts. This included the concert in 2001 immediately following the 9/11 attacks, when Bill and his colleague Martin Hurrell played the hauntingly beautiful ‘Tromba Lontana’ by John Adams to a live audience estimated at 450 million people worldwide. The following year saw his duet performance of Copland’s ‘Quiet City’ with oboist Celia Craig to critical acclaim:

“Copland’s evocative Quiet City was given flawless and sensitive solos from Celia Craig’s solemn cor anglais and William Houghton’s sombre trumpet, complimenting each other from opposite ends of the platform.”
S and H Prom Review

Since 1983 Bill has led the London Gabrieli Brass Ensemble, with whom he has travelled the world.

 

(Photo: Bill Houghton and Michael Laird, Vivaldi Double, Lambeth Cathedral)