Alex Burns

Primarily I am a music journalist and arts marketing professional, but I also privately teach trumpet as well as playing with local orchestras, brass bands and other ensembles.

The first thing that came to mind was when I played Mahler's Fifth Symphony with Hallam Sinfonia last year. As well as being able to play a symphony by my favourite composer, the orchestra also asked me to write the programme notes, and give a pre-concert talk about Mahler, his life, and his works. This was such a great experience for me, and I really enjoyed it.

This is a tough question! Definitely Gustav Mahler, because after writing two dissertations on him, I’d love to ask him how close I was to the truth!

Secondly, I would invite Claudio Abbado, who is my favourite conductor of all time. I would invite him because I’d love to know how he worked through all of the Mahler symphonies, and why he made some of the decisions he did whilst performing them at the Lucerne Festivals (see a trend yet?).

Lastly, I’d invite Henry-Louis de la Grange, who died in January of last year. He is perhaps the most prolific Mahler biographer and musicologist, and I have always admired his work. Therefore, I’d have three Mahler guests, and I feel like it would be the best experience ever (shame they’ve all passed away though!).

I have always been so fascinated with the bassoon, so I would have to say that.

I actually cannot remember what it was - it may have been an album by Anastasia?

It very much depends on the kind of music I’m going for. If we’re talking classical, I love City Hall and Music in the Round Studio. If we’re talking jazz, then Cubana has a great atmosphere. For others, I do very much like The Washington and The Chimney House.

I started learning music very late in comparison to lots of my friends. However, I was always brought up surrounded by music. My mum always used to play classical music, or heavy metal music (a match made in heaven!), and my dad would have on Indie, folk or country music. So I have grown into my own very eclectic music taste.

I cannot mention just one, that’s impossible! My A Level teachers, Ross and Mel, were so inspiring at such a testing time in my education. They were the ones to get me interested in musicology and music history, which has ended up being my specialism and career. Some of the lecturers I met at uni are also up there, especially those that supported my Masters research.

I’m sure they all are! But as I am playing with them this weekend, Endcliffe Orchestra are set to have a fun concert this Saturday (27 January), with some classics.

Classical classics!