Ahead of the 2026-27 Season starting, we have three new members of the orchestra to introduce you to: Vera, Gideon and Maitiú. Get to know the musicians and next time you come to one of our concerts, see if you can spot them amongst the orchestra!

Vera Beumer, Tutti First Violin

Originally from Utrecht, the Netherlands, Vera Beumer began playing the violin at the age of seven. From the age of nine, she studied at the HKU Utrecht Conservatoire Young Talent Programme, Academie Muzikaal Talent, before moving to London at 17 to continue her studies at the Royal College of Music with Daniel Rowland, Gaby Lester and Alina Ibragimova. She graduated with distinction from her Master's in 2024.

During her studies, she was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra and gained places on the London Philharmonic Orchestra Foyle Future Firsts scheme and the English National Opera Evolve scheme. Vera enjoys freelancing with various orchestras, such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra and during the 2024-2025 season, she was a member of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra Academy.

Alongside her orchestral career, Vera is an active chamber musician. She won the Royal College of Music String Quartet Competition in 2020 and has been a regular participant at IMS Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music since 2021. Vera performs on a 1760 Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi violin, kindly on loan from Het Muziekinstrumenten Fonds (the Netherlands).

Outside of music, she enjoys running, cooking, beach holidays and Sunday roasts.

Gideon Brooks, Principal Second Trumpet

From Bognor Regis, Gideon grew up by the seaside and started playing trumpet at the age of eight, joining the Chichester Music Service before going to the Junior Guildhall School of Music & Drama to study with Andy Mitchell (former Principal Trumpet of the English National Ballet). It was here that Gideon was invited to watch Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake’ from the pit at the London Coliseum, which inspired him to pursue an orchestral career.

Gideon then studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra, Principal Trumpet of the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra and was offered a place on the Budapest Festival Orchestra (BFO) Apprenticeship Scheme, working with Ivan Fisher and the BFO for two years.

Following his time in Hungary, Gideon enjoyed freelancing with most of the UK’s leading orchestras, including as guest Principal Trumpet with the Orchestra of the Royal Ballet and Opera House, Philharmonia Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and others. Highlights include several tours in Europe, Asia, and North America with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, and Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Away from the concert hall, Gideon has recorded sessions for film, TV, video games, and various albums. In his spare time, Gideon likes to go running (slowly), or swimming (also slowly)!

Maitiú Gaffney, Tutti Double Bass

Irish double bassist Maitiú Gaffney has established himself as a sought-after orchestral and chamber musician. He was a member of the Ulster Orchestra for two years from 2024 before joining the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in September 2026. He also regularly appears as a guest with leading ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. Alongside his orchestral work, Maitiú is an active chamber musician and has performed at the Clandeboye Festival with Camerata Ireland and at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival.

Maitiú studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where he completed his Master's in 2025. He previously studied at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, graduating with First Class Honours in 2023, where he was fortunate to work with past and present members of the CBSO. He also spent a year at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in 2018, completing a diploma in music teaching and performance, and is a prizewinner at the ESB Feis Ceoil.

Away from the orchestra, Maitiú is a prominent traditional Irish flute player. He has competed at the highest level, winning medals at the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil, and has performed throughout Ireland as well as in Britain, Germany, Estonia and the Netherlands.

Maitiú is also a keen cyclist and can proudly say that he has built two bikes that are still going strong.