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Our Principal Bass Trombone James Littlewood is from Melbourne but has a strong family connection to Tasmania.
James joined the TSO in 2025 and was recently appointed to the role of Principal Bass Trombone.
He describes moving to Hobart as a ‘wonderful change of pace’ and it turns out it’s also been a chance to connect to some family roots – and even to meet some relatives!
‘My family has a strong connection to Geeveston as we are descendants of William Geeves, the first British settler of the area. On my mother’s side of the family, William Geeves’ granddaughter Mary Ann went to Victoria for the gold rush and married an Italian who had come to find his fortune.
‘It’s been special to visit Geeveston with the TSO and to see how much local history is preserved in the town,’ James says.
‘I had a very Tasmanian moment a while ago when I was doing a TSO tour in the North West and a clarinettist from one of the community bands we played with introduced herself to me as my mum's cousin!’
What is the bass trombone?
The bass trombone has a larger bell and mouthpiece than a regular trombone and valves that add extra tubing to the instrument, so it can be played at a lower register.
James started playing trombone when he was nine and says switching to bass trombone in high school was the best decision he ever made.
‘I felt a connection to its sound and role in the orchestra that made me feel at home,’ he explains.
Ensembles and improvisation
Aside from playing in the orchestra, chamber music is an important part of James’ artistic identity.
‘I now get to play with the Overland Ensemble, which is comprised of my low brass colleagues from the TSO. It’s fun to get to play a lot more notes than we usually get to when we’re in the orchestra!’ he says.
‘Another project I’m very passionate about is my duo in Melbourne with my dear friend, pianist Jenny Lu. We do about three recitals each year and have started planning an album recording.’
James also has a strong interest in contemporary classical music and improvisation.
In 2022 he formed an improv trio with fellow classically trained musicians on piano and percussion, performing new music including by Tasmanian composer Dominic Flynn.
‘In that work, the three of us had to play one guitar and follow animated graphic notation. It was called Scalpel, and we certainly felt like we were performing surgery on the instrument!’ he says.
‘In the last couple of years my focus has been more on orchestral playing and securing my place at TSO, but I really hope to get back into improvising and playing new music again soon.’
When he’s not playing music, James enjoys board games (‘My partner and I have 70-something games,’ he says), running with TSO colleagues and weekly pizza nights at his local brewery.
‘Pizzas and great beer with great friends is a truly spiritual experience.’
