Russell Denwood

Born at Wallsend in the county of Northumberland in northern England, as a young man he pursued a career in music, first as a chorister in the local cathedral, later at Trinity College of Music in London. There he studied composition with James Patten and Harold Jones, bassoon with Roger Hellyer and Edgar Williams, and piano with Julius Lepiankiewicz. He played bassoon professionally for a number of years in London.

In 1972 Russell married Shirley Black, a flute, piano and violin specialist. They soon accepted music teaching positions in Russell’s native northern England. Later they taught music in Aberdeen, Scotland. After twenty years teaching all woodwinds, he and his wife have shifted their emphasis to composing and arranging, drawing extensively from their teaching and performing experiences.

Russell’s hobbies are gardening, model engineering, literature and Japanese art.