Chatting With Aaron Azunda Akugbo

Trumpet player Aaron Azunda Akugbo is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and an ex-principal of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He cites Louis Armstrong as his biggest musical inspiration and made his London debut at the Royal Festival Hall playing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto with Chineke! in 2020. Aaron is performing with harpist Milo Harper as part of the Harrogate International Sunday Series concerts on March 2.

Who inspired you to first start performing?

The first person that I truly loved listening to was Louis Armstrong after my next-door neighbour gave me some cds he had of trumpet players.

What is your biggest achievement from your performance career so far?

A highlight for me was when I got to play as concerto soloist at both the Lucerne Festival and the BBC proms in a week back in 2022.

If you could collaborate with any other artist in history, who would it be?

Ayanna Witter-Johnson is an artist I’ve really enjoyed listening to, and playing her music, so to do a duo with her would be incredible.

What is your favourite, and least favourite, thing about performing?

My favourite part is showing audiences the beautiful side of the trumpet – showing it doesn’t just play loud fanfares! My least favourite is how, despite having done it hundreds of times, I always feel like I’ve forgotten something when packing my trumpet case.

What advice would you have for upcoming artists wanting to follow in your footsteps?

I would say that the most important thing is to always make sure you’re enjoying what it is you’re doing. The music I play now is all stuff that brings me joy, or has important significance to me, which makes it all the more rewarding.

What inspired your current programme, and do you feel an infinity to a particular composer or era?

In the same vein, it is full of music that I believe represents me as a musician, at the same time as fitting with the goal of giving audiences an enjoyable concert experience. So I would say combining some well-known names like Piazzola and Bizet in new arrangements for trumpet and harp, alongside some songs by Florence Price whose music truly holds a special place in my heart.

How do you see the future of classical music, and do you think it’s still relevant to people today?

It’s certainly evolving – so much music is now recognised as classical music. You see so many film scores and TV soundtracks with full symphony orchestras behind them. Also, it’s become far more fluid with influences coming from everywhere.

How do you hope the Harrogate audience responds to your concert?
My goal is always to have the audience say “wow! I didn’t realise the trumpet could sound like that” or “I wasn’t sure about trumpet and harp as a combination but it really works!” When those things are said it feels like it’s been a job well done.

What’s your favourite use of music in film or tv?

Literally any! My dad always speaks about how movies would be nothing without the music. I feel it truly elevates the story and sometimes does the storytelling all by itself.

Aaron Azunda Akugbo & Milo Harper | The Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate | Sunday, March 2, 11am. Book online at Home - Harrogate International Festivals or call the box office on 01423 562 303.