Musician Julia Oxley Julia Oxley joined the Band of the Irish Guards in September 2007.  She was educated in Hertfordshire and began playing the flute and double bass whilst at school.  During this time, she participated in various concert bands, also becoming a member of the Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra. 

With her sights firmly set on studying music, she fulfilled her ambition of reading music at Surrey University. Having achieved her Bachelor of Music degree, as well as winning the Bell and Colvill Scholarship for solo performance, Julia decided to pursue a career as a musician in the Army. 

Passing her Basic Training with flying colours, she spent some time at The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall where she studied flute with Graham Mayger and double bass with Richard Driver.  This also gave her an opportunity to broaden her repertoire and brush up on her sight-reading skills.

 Within the band she participates in various chamber groups such as the orchestra, string quintet, big band and wind quintet, as well as playing flute and piccolo in the marching and concert bands.  Julia is also a member of Corps of Army Music Sinfonietta.  This is an orchestra drawn from some of the finest players across Army music.  The ensemble performs seasonally in prestigious venues such as St. John Smith Square and its repertoire varies from classical to modern works. In her spare time Julia enjoys keeping fit, sailing and reading.

 

Musician Jonathan Spencer (28), who joined the Band in March 2008, originally hails from Southend, Essex.  A professional trumpet player, he left his recruitment job in the City of London to become an Army musician. 

Musician Spencer is a post-graduate of the Royal College of Music, London.  "There are only so many trumpet jobs in the UK," says Musn Spencer.  "After leaving college the reality of 'paying the bills' and the limited amount of regular work as a musician prompted me to work fulltime in the square mile and freelance when I could."

"It has now been two years", he explains, "I'm still here and it's my ideal job.  One of the parts I enjoy most is the opportunity to travel, one moment I’m touring America, next I'm playing for a London orchestra and then for a show in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  I play every day and am constantly in the public eye."  When asked what his proudest moment was as an Army musician, he did not hesitate; "Trooping the Colour - because it's one of the main events in the Household Division calendar and an amazing opportunity to perform directly for The Queen."