Kaitlin Wild, Principal Second Trumpet

Kaitlin officially started her role with the orchestra on 13 January, after having joined us as a freelancer for the 2024 Christmas concerts.

Kaitlin grew up in Rugby surrounded by music, mostly watching and playing in brass bands. She joined her parents in the Jaguar Land Rover Brass Band aged eleven, before joining the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain aged thirteen. Her playing was also supported by the Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust. She went on to study the Trumpet at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and later the Royal Academy of Music, whilst also taking part in the LSO Brass Academy and the European Union Youth Orchestra.

Since graduating from RAM in 2019, Kaitlin has led a busy freelance career working with many of the UK’s leading orchestras and ensembles. Personal career highlights to date include some incredible tours to Japan and South Korea, and playing at the King’s Coronation in 2023. Alongside orchestral playing Kaitlin also dedicates a lot of her time to chamber music, playing regularly with groups such as Septura and Onyx Brass.

Having grown up watching the CBSO, and having had lessons with former members Alan Thomas and Jon Holland, Kaitlin is really excited to be joining the orchestra. The connections don’t end there - Kaitlin’s Grandad has many fond memories from his time singing in the CBSO chorus from 1974-1986 as member number 412!

Outside of work Kaitlin enjoys cooking (mostly dhal) and walking her dog in the countryside.

Neil Shewan, Principal Second Horn

Neil officially joins the orchestra in April but will be coming in regularly as a freelancer while he serves his notice period from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Neil graduated from Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2001 and during his final year won the International Paxman Horn Player of the Year Competition - the first time that a British Horn player had done so. During the same year, Neil was asked to join the UK’s premier brass quintet, Fine Arts Brass, staying with the quintet for three years. In 2009 Neil joined the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and in 2016 he was promoted to Principal Third Horn with the orchestra.

During a busy freelance career, Neil has worked with many of the countries finest orchestras and opera companies including the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Opera House, Halle, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Opera North, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and many others. He has also recorded the soundtracks for films and TV programmes including Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Bourne Trilogy, Dr Who, His Dark Materials and has guested for West End musicals, including The Lion King, The Producers, Wicked, Spamalot and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Outside of playing Neil is a music examiner for Trinity College London and is a Professor of Horn at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

We are also delighted to announce the appointment of the position of Sub Principal First Violin to both Nate Bomans and Richard Thomas, who previously were Tutti Violinists with the CBSO. They started these positions at the beginning of 2025.