Rath Trombones has announced the addition of bass trombonist Tom Pilsbury to its roster of Rath Artists.

Active as a freelance bass and contrabass trombonist, Tom has performed with several orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, CBSO, Royal Ballet Sinfonia, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, English National Ballet, Northern Film Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra in Dublin.

Tom has also recorded for both the Naxos and Decca record labels, and has played on Rath trombones since 2013.

Reflecting on becoming a Rath Artist, Tom Pilsbury commented: “I am very excited to become part of the Rath Trombone family.

“The overall build quality is simply second to none. Mick’s trombones are extremely well built and look incredible. Mick produces some of the best and durable slides out there as well. He and the Honley plant staff produce such fine instruments every time. I was so impressed with them that I ordered a contrabass trombone from them in 2019 and that is superb too.

“What I also find impressive about these instruments is that they are so flexible. My concert diary can vary quite a bit and one day I could be playing a Shostakovich Symphony, the next I could be playing in a recording studio or even in a choral setting playing Beethoven 9. I never feel like I must change the trombone to match the ensemble I am playing; this instrument does it all and more.”

Tom added: “The customer service that the team provide is invaluable. They have been very helpful during both servicing and lending an ear when testing components. Tim Sidwell was a great help in setting up my contrabass trombone and the knowledge that the team possess is first-class.”

Born and raised in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, Tom studied both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. While he specialised in bass and contrabass trombones under Bob Hughes and David Vines, he also received tuition from other notable trombonists such as James Buckle, Christian Jones, David Gordon, Amos Miller, Lyndon Meredith and Keith McNicoll.

Tom Pilsbury plays a Rath R9 DST with a red brass bell, bronze slide (single bore), red brass neck and a 9A leadpipe.

His contrabass trombone has a red brass bell, bronze slide, yellow brass tuning slide and a 90A leadpipe.