Robert Codd

Robert Codd was educated at Clifton College, Bristol, where he first took up the bassoon and University College, Cardiff, reading Natural Sciences initially, but later changing to Music.

In 1966 he graduated with a B.Mus. and in the same year gained an LRAM, (Performers), on the bassoon.  Shortly afterwards he won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London, where he remained for four years, studying with Geoffrey Gambold.

He combined College activities with classroom teaching in the East End of London, peripatetic woodwind teaching for Buckinghamshire and chamber music, including the Galliard Ensemble, Van Walsum Ensemble, which specialised in work for schools and music societies and the London Harpsichord Ensemble, with regular appearances at the Purcell Room and Wigmore Hall.

On leaving College he spent several years freelancing, especially with contemporary music and wind chamber groups, as well as many performances with London Festival Ballet, (now English National Ballet), as a bassoonist, not as a dancer! In August 1973 he joined the BBC Welsh Orchestra, ( now BBC National Orchestra of Wales) as Principal Bassoonist, a position he held until September, 2003. During his time with the Orchestra he was involved with many foreign tours, including those to Eastern Europe, Japan and North America, much “Outreach Work” and gave regular solo broadcasts for Radio 3.

Over the years he has been involved with several wind ensembles, adjudicating, teaching and other educational work and has played with many orchestras, including the CBSO, BSO and LSO, the London Mozart Players and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera. He has been a Bassoon Tutor at Cardiff University and at the RWCMD since 1974.