In February 2002, Simon was appointed as Principal Trombone with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra where he continues to perform as a soloist. From Bury, Lancashire, Simon studied at Chetham’s School of Music before entering the RNCM in 1990. His extensive awards list includes the RNCM's John Wray Prize, Chetham's Dennis Midwood Prize for Brass, 3rd place in the BBC TV’s Young Musician of the Year brass final, and the Harry Mortimer Solo Award from the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

Rory Macdonald was born in Stirling in 1980 and studied music at Cambridge and conducting with David Zinman and Jorma Panula before going on to join Ivan Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra as assistant conductor. He then spent two years at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden as a member of the Jette Parker Young Artists' programme and has conducted several operas there, including Das Rheingold, Fidelio and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He has also worked extensively at Glyndebourne and has just completed a successful period as Assistant Conductor of the Hallé Orchestra, conducting concerts with them in Manchester and across the North of England.