Alex Neal

Which instrument to play? At the age of 17, Alex had to make a choice between taking the trumpet or percussion to the next level.

Fortunately, it looks like he made the right choice as his career as a professional percussionist is working out very nicely!

Alex was delighted to be offered the position of Co-Principal Percussion with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 2003, and he now balances a busy music playing schedule with teaching (at the Royal College of Music in London) and as many fun educational projects and concerts as he can (hopefully with Kidenza because they’re the most fun!).

As a qualified FA Football referee, Alex spends most of his free Sundays refereeing his two son’s football matches. And three of Alex’s proudest recordings are for Lord of the Rings, three of the Harry Potter films and the newest “Frozen” attraction due to open in Disneyland Paris in 2023!!

Joe Richards

After turning out to be an extremely indecisive young musician, Joe realised by the age of 15 that he could remove the element of choice, become a percussionist, and perform on 1000s of different instruments, rather than having to pick just one!

Soon after this epiphany, he took up a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music and since graduating, has gone on to freelance around the UK and abroad as a soloist, session musician and orchestral percussionist, performing with ensembles including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and Royal Scottish National Orchestra, to name just a few, frequently appearing on national television and radio.

He continues to perform on instruments of all different shapes and sizes, from the triangle to the marimba, to the kazoo, flowerpots and even a lamp!