Robin Haggart

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The Orchestra

Robin Haggart

Tuba
Adopted by anonymous patron

Born in Aberdeen, Robin Haggart studied at Royal Academy of Music, where he was the recipient of a number of awards. He has been Principal Tuba of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra since 1996, appearing as a soloist on a number of occasions. In October 2015 he gave the world premiere of Robin Holloway’s Europa and the Bull with the Orchestra and conductor Andrew Manze.

Robin was a member of the Wallace Collection brass ensemble from 1993-2000, undertaking a wide variety of projects ranging from concerts and masterclasses in Australia and the USA, to workshops with children in Sierra Leone, Malaysia and Kazakhstan.

He has appeared as a guest player with most of the UK orchestras and has also played with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and the Berlin Philharmonic. From 2003-2008 he was the tuba player with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra.

Robin is on the teaching staff of the Royal Northern College of Music and has given masterclasses at the Royal College of Music and Trinity Laban.

In 2021 he was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society.

Fun Fact:
A keen runner and bread-maker, Robin has completed several marathons and baked countless sourdough loaves.

What is the best thing about being a member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra?
Best thing about playing in the Orchestra I would say is the chance to play amazing music that you’ve always loved, and the chance to see different places, different countries and different cities. I also love feeling part of a team - not many jobs where you sit with 70 other people doing more or less the same thing!If you weren't a musician, what would you be?
I remember vaguely wanting to be a lawyer when I was about 7 or 8, but I think that I was before I knew what lawyers did really. If I wasn’t playing in the Orchestra I’d probably like to do something outdoorsy like forestry. Or maybe doing something to help people, like a paramedic or something like that.Who is your biggest musical inspiration and why?
I come from a very musical family, so my biggest influences musically in my life were my mum, dad and my brothers. My brothers both play the trumpet and right from the earliest age I can remember I was surrounded by people practising, singing and playing concerts.

Most fun piece to play on tuba?
Anything by Prokofiev.

Favourite performance?
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Brass ensemble outdoor concert in Shanghai. Despite being the hottest concert I've ever done, it was great playing music by The Beatles in China, and hearing everyone singing along.

Concert/repertoire you’d love to perform in future?Arnold Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder. I'd also love to do a collaboration with the rock band Muse.

Do you play any other instruments?
Unfortunately not.

Have you performed with any other orchestras?
Apart from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, I've played with many orchestras in the UK and beyond. A number of years ago I was lucky enough to play for a week in the Berlin Philharmonic.