Virtual Music Events at Queen's returns with Steve Barnett in conversation with Prof. Piers Hellawell. Watch again here.

In this, the last of our autumn 2020 ‘Chats’ with our deferred concert artists for Music at Queen’s, Professor Piers Hellawell meets multi-talented conductor, QUB Big Band director, jazz pianist and former Ulster Orchestra trombonist Stephen Barnett; Steve is a well-known musical figure on campus as trombone teacher, jazz instructor and concert jazz pianist. This December we are disappointed not to be hosting the pre-Christmas ‘Steve Barnett and Friends’ jazz event that is a tradition in our lunchtime calendar - but we look forward to hosting Steve in a jazz event in the coming months. In the meantime we welcome the chance to talk jazz, orchestral playing and music education with him – and to hear QUB Big Band in action in three numbers – Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, Crosstalk (a composition of Steve’s own) and Quebec!

Stephen Barnett began studying music at the junior school of the Royal Northern College of Music in 1973. In 1977 he became an undergraduate at the R.N.C.M., where he helped to found the R.N.C.M. Big Band. He graduated in 1981 whereupon he freelanced with most of the major symphony orchestras in Britain. He joined the Ulster Orchestra in 1982, playing trombone with them until 2010. Stephen plays keyboards and writes and arranges for many different ensembles, including the Ulster Orchestra. He has conducted many ensembles throughout the province and takes an active part in music education. Stephen is the trombone tutor at Queen’s, and in 2002 became the musical director of the Queen’s University Big Band.