Born in 1965 in England, he first made a name for himself as a 9 year old Boy Soprano soloist with St. John's College Choir Cambridge. He studied violin and viola with David Takeno at the Guildhall School of Music in London. Between 1983 and 1987 he won prizes at viola and chamber music competitions. The Daily Telegraph was enthused about his "wonderful expressive power". From 1993 to 2003 he was solo viola with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and since 2003 has been deputy solo viola with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra.