About Orchestral Percussion
Paul Jefferies grew up in the Yorkshire Dales and always had a keen interest in music, and all things mechanical. He learnt drums and percussion from the age of 10 playing in the school and local orchestras. After leaving school he concentrated on kit playing, teaching and gigging. To occupy time the day job was as a plant fitter fixing everything from vacuum cleaners to mini diggers.
He made his first drum kit as an experiment in his early twenties and subsequently decided to develop this into a possible career. He undertook an evening class in general instrument making, and another in classical guitar making, supplementing this with furniture making in his spare time.
This progressed into full time education where he studied violin making in London for two years. This course also offered the possibility to further develop his knowledge and skills with modules in tool making, instrument design, acoustics, material science, and the historical development of instruments. There was also the time to study flute making and bow making part time, and work for one of the best cabinetmakers in the country during his holidays. He graduated with distinction, but more satisfying was the third place in the Tom Jenkins instrument making competition, which he won the year after.
On completion of this course Paul moved back into the percussion field working for a London shop where he progressed to be workshop manager.
He has been trading under the name of Orchestral Percussion for the last five years, in which time the business has grown steadily doing work for:
- London Symphony Orchestra
- London Philharmonic Orchestra
- BBC Symphony Orchestra
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Chamber Orchestra of Europe
- Birmingham Royal Ballet
- Symphonia
- Orchestra to National Theatre
- Royal Opera House
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Royal Academy of Music
- London College of Music & Media
- and many more
- and individual players, schools, colleges and music services.