Jon Brooks

Bio

Born into a musical family, Jon started his training on the piano at the age of six, and then took up the French Horn two years later. Now, as a multi-instrumentalist, he plays mainly the Piano, French Horn and Trumpet.

In 1993, when he was twelve, Jon won first prize in a piano competition where he performed in Manchester on stage alongside Richard Clayderman. In 1996 he was awarded the 'Excellence through Achievement - Jonathan Donaghy and Emma McManus Memorial Trust Prize'. One year later, he took first prize, the Haydn Trophy, at Macclesfield Music Festival, performing Frank Bridge's 'Rosemary' on the piano.

Jon has performed at a variety of venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Barbican Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Kuala Lumpur's Twin Towers and at the Vatican, Rome. He also had the privilege of performing with Anita Sarawak, M. Nasir in Malaysia and for the Queen in London during her Jubilee Tour.

He began composing and orchestrating in his early teens, and almost immediately discovered that this was the career path he wanted to pursue. Jon continued his studies in Cambridge (Anglia Ruskin University), where he was elected student president of the music department. Relocating to Kingston University, London, he gained a Master's degree (with commendation) in Composition for Film and Television. The graduation ceremony took place in the Royal Albert Hall, London.

On completing his studies, Jon set up his own recording studio, working as a freelance composer in the UK before taking up a full-time position at Wasp Studios in Malaysia as an In-House Composer/Sound Designer, mainly composing music for film, television, radio, TVC's, theatre, mobile devices and animation series.

Jon is currently based in Stockport, UK where he runs his own recording studio. In 2013 he co-founded and launched Tough Monkey Records (TMR) with Clive Farrington (When In Rome).

Jon composes in a variety of different genres, from epic orchestral scores to dance music, from jazz to canto pop, from western classical to eastern and from children's music to experimental work. Though his creativity is versatile, his real forte leans towards dramatic orchestral film scores. His music is heavily influenced by a wide range of composers spanning from the 17th century to the present day.

As well as his excellent working knowledge of music/audio production, Jon also has extensive knowledge and experience of recording equipment, techniques, programming and associated technologies. He is equally well-versed in writing/arranging for live instrumentalists - 'keeping it live' - in producing close renditions by utilising powerful software, precision editing with the highest quality audio samples. Jon frequently combines the two.

His research into the relationship between sound and emotions enables him to approach projects with sensitivity and awareness. The function of music and sound in all media is paramount to his work, from concept to realisation.

Jon's work has enabled him to travel abroad extensively, including Holland, Germany, Malaysia, Belgium, Austria, Italy and the United States.