Angus West
Born in Edinburgh, Angus took up the horn at
the age of 11. Moving to Northumberland, Angus first had lessons
with Eric Stevenson and eventually Hugh Potts. At the Royal
Northern College of Music, he studied under Michael Purton
and began a busy freelance career working with the Halle, BBC
Northern/Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Northern
Sinfonia Orchestras.
His started first job as third horn with Opera North in 1982,
moving to the Halle Orchestra as Assistant Principal Horn in 1986.
Following further trials with the London Symphony and Scottish
National Orchestras Angus took up his current position as Principal
Horn with Welsh National Opera in 1990.
As a soloist Angus has performed Mozart’s 2nd,
3rd and 4th concertos as well as the
Symphonia Concertante. He has also performed the Britten
Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Strauss’s 1st
Concerto, and the Horn Concerto by Gliere with the City of Cardiff
Symphony Orchestra.
Angus has also taught French Horn at Chetham’s
School of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music and the
Birmingham Conservatoire.