​My degree is over. My final recital, a month ago today, really was the highlight of my four years at the Guildhall School, as it was everything I had planned it to be – a showcase of who I am as a musician. It had some natural trumpet, in Bach's second Brandenburg Concerto (without a doubt the best piece of baroque trumpet music in existence); I got to play the flugelhorn and exercise my choral roots in a rendition of Gammal Fäbodpsalm från Dalarna for flugelhorn and choir (though I did give up on the arranging side of things and persuaded a dear friend to do that bit for me); and I managed to fit a substantial bit of musical theatre in too – 76 songs in total – with my new invention of the musical theatre trumpet concerto!

Eternal thanks to my composer, Sam, my arranger, Charlie, the 30 musicians who played in the recital (it was meant to be 28, but following a very-last-minute illness, I had to replace a reed tripler with three separate musicians – I prefer a round number anyway), and of course, everyone who came to watch! The rest of you, check out the video which is now up on YouTube for your unlimited enjoyment.

Christmas is the busiest time of year for any musician, especially a brass player. Pantomimes and Christmas shows are in abundance, creating an enticing environment for those light music players, a group of which Tom most certainly is; brass quintets and other such ensembles are overwhelmed with parties and ceremonies. Christmas is a time at which Tom's second love, historical performance, thrives more than ever. Messiahs and Christmas Oratorios are a very regular occurrence in these months – some of the greatest natural trumpet repertoire.

There is a special pick-of-the-year for Tom on 23rd December, however. An unprecedented reworking of Handel's much-loved Messiah is the baby of Solistes de Musique Ancient this Christmas, going by the name of 'Brassiah'. This is G. F. Handel's famous classic with the standard string orchestra completely replaced with a brass quintet. Those of you who are familiar with the timbrical depth available from such an ensemble (displayed in, for instance, Canadian Brass' extraordinary performance of Beethoven 5) can imagine the success of this project. The ensemble will be accompanying eight stunning singers alongside organ, the music interspersed throughout the evening with readings, drama and poetry.

The Brassiah Project
23 December, 6pm
All Saints' Church, Putney Common
​Tickets: £12, £0