Meet the Musicians: Fletcher Cox
2 June 2025.
Fletcher Cox describes his musical career so far as ‘one giant adventure’.
From singing a solo in New York's Carnegie Hall in his early career, to landing the Principal Trumpet gig at the TSO, Fletch shares a little of what it's taken to land to his dream role.
Fletcher, congratulations on your appointment as TSO Principal Trumpet!
Thank you so much – I’m over the moon. Being a part of an orchestra has been a dream of mine since I was a teenager (a dream that sometimes felt very out of reach). To have been welcomed into such a talented pool of musicians and just a wonderful group of people is something I’m so grateful for. I couldn’t be happier!
What did it take to get to this point in your career?
I’d describe my journey prior to the TSO as one giant adventure. As with any adventure, it’s had its fair share of ups and downs and I’m grateful for everyone who’s helped guide me and for each experience that got me to this point.
I have moved around a lot for work, so joining the TSO means I finally have the opportunity to establish some roots.
It’s like letting go of a breath I’ve been holding for several years and it feels amazing.
We love adventures! Please tell us more about your career journey.
As a freelance musician, I lived and worked all around the country with most of the state orchestras, including extended contracts with WASO and taking part in Opera Australia’s 2023 production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle with QSO. I’m also a proud alumnus of the Sydney Symphony Fellowship Program, the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), the University of Western Australia (UWA) and Perth Modern School.
All these experiences helped me tackle my biggest hurdle – getting to the other side of an audition process. They’re often likened to the Olympics for musicians … and aptly so! Since my first audition in 2017, I’ve taken over 18 auditions for full-time positions with professional orchestras around the country.
Can you share a memorable moment from your early music life?
I wasn’t the most dedicated trumpet student in my early years and my trumpet teacher had an uphill battle trying to help me fix my embouchure, which led to several suggestions of maybe pursuing a different path. Fast forward several years, I was back in Perth working as Acting Associate Principal Trumpet for WASO, and one of the guest musicians in that week was none other than my high school teacher. He couldn’t stop saying how proud he was (and shocked!). We still keep in touch to this day and laugh about it.
Another story is actually to do with singing. I was heavily involved in my high school choir and later joined a local choir in Perth that ended up travelling to New York for a massed choral performance with Grammy Award–winning composer Eric Whitacre in Carnegie Hall. One of his pieces needed a soloist – I auditioned and he ended up choosing me! There was no time for a soundcheck, so my first time singing the solo in Carnegie Hall was during the performance itself. Thankfully, by all accounts it went well, and it became an experience that helped me trust in my abilities and made me really consider music as a viable option for a career.
In Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic earlier this year.
Recent travels in Prague.
How do you find living in Hobart so far? And is there something you’re still getting used to?
I love the natural beauty and walkability of the city. I still pinch myself every time I get a good mountain view from the top of my street or look out over the wharf and see the beautiful seascapes.
I also love that I can really feel a strong sense of community and local pride. Tasmanians seem to have an openness and generosity that’s really distinctive. It’s so special.
As to the ‘getting used to’ side of things, you can probably guess my answer. Having grown up in 40° summers, I’m bracing for my first Tasmanian winter. But I’m looking forward to it. I’ve got my puffer jacket and my central heating ready to go – now all I need is a good recipe for mulled wine!
What are your interests aside from music?
I’ve had a few hobbies over the years, but the ones that have persisted are travelling, gardening and collecting gin.
Having amassed quite the collection while pursuing the latter, I’ll have to figure out how to slowly transport it down to Hobart. If only there were some distilleries in Tasmania to tide me over until then (he said with a gleam in his eyes).
My most recent travel adventures have taken me to the Czech Republic and Germany and I’m set to go to France in July.
Conversely, travelling has made gardening a hard hobby to maintain, but I’m looking forward to finally being able to cultivate a little garden of my own.
Mark [TSO Tutti Trumpet Mark Bain], in addition to being an amazing trumpet colleague, is also quite the skilled gardener and I’m looking forward to picking his brains about how to look after plants in Hobart. He’s even given me a small herb garden to get me started.
Fletcher, third from right, performing with the Cat Empire in 2024.
Fletcher (middle) and Mark Bain (second from right) with colleagues in Hobart's St David's Cathedral.
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