For the past two years well known army musician and cornet player Nick Walkley has been leading a stressful double life.

Masters degree

Not only has he been busy working for the Band of the Irish Guards, and more recently the Band of the Welsh Guards, he has also taken on a full time masters degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

And as part of his final recital entitled, ‘Fanfare and Folk-Song’, he gave a virtuosic display of his abilities aided by the musical help of his colleagues of The Band of The Welsh Guards.

Startling

Nick adapted ‘Youth and Love’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams and ‘All Night under the Moon’ by Ivor Gurney for trumpet and piano, as well performing Nigel Clarke’s ‘Premonitions’ — a trio of startling prophetic fanfares.

Now armed with a well deserved degree, Nick will soon delve into the busiest season of the year getting stuck into the juicy parts of being in a Foot Guards band within the Corps of Army Music.

Not alone

A huge amount of support was required to take on the large workload and Nick told 4BR that he was grateful for the wonderful support of family, fellow students and colleagues.

"I loved being a student again," he told 4BR. "There is a very positive and friendly vibe amongst the students at the Royal Academy of Music and there have been some incredible performance projects lined up in my time there."

Support from the Army was critical in making this happenNick Walkley

Help

Nick added: "Support from the Army was critical in making this happen.

Without the help of the Irish Guards Bandmaster at the time, Richard Cregan and a very supportive Band Sergeant Major in Gwyn Thomas, I wouldn’t have been able to commit to half of what I was able to."