Aaron Azunda Akugbo is our new Principal Trumpet
9 July 2026
We’re excited to announce our new Principal Trumpet: Aaron Azunda Akugbo
Hi, my name is Aaron Azunda Akugbo and I am the new Principal Trumpet of Aurora Orchestra. As if. Mental.
1. When did you first pick up the trumpet?
I first started playing when I was about 4 or 5 years old. My dad had wanted to learn the trumpet, I think he got it as a gift from my mum. He had one lesson, but didn’t keep going. And one day I came across it in the house when they were clearing out the loft and I haven’t put it down since basically.
2. When did you realise you wanted to play the trumpet professionally?
I was told by my first trumpet teacher who was so enthusiastic that I should audition for this music school in Edinburgh at St Mary’s Music School. I started there when I was about eight years old and music was just my whole life. And so I think I knew that it was always going to be part of it. And now I do it as a job, which does just sort of feel crazy.
3. What’s been your proudest moment as a musician so far?
The proudest moment for me would have been being able to play the Haydn Trumpet Concerto at the BBC Proms with Chineke! Orchestra. That was pretty cool. All my family came down from Scotland, my first ever trumpet teacher was there, it was all very emotional. It was just really cool, it’s an amazing thing to stand in front of thousands and thousands of people playing a concerto.
4. What are you most looking forward to in your new position with Aurora?
I think the thing I’m most excited for is to keep doing it. I know that’s sort of a weird answer, but the times I’ve played with the orchestra it’s always just been such a fab time. I think I’m just excited to know that this is now going to be like a massive part of my life. And I’m looking forward to seeing what projects we’ll do in the future.
I think it’s such an exciting concept, playing everything from memory: the way it feels like I perform and everyone else around me performs is to such an elevated level. And the enjoyment is just so high and everyone’s so lovely.
5. What’s your favourite piece of music to play?
My favourite piece of music to play in orchestra, well actually it’s my favorite one to listen to, is Daphnis and Chloe by Ravel. The trumpet doesn’t do loads (we do enough!) so I can just sit back and listen. It’s stunning. I’d love to play Daphnis from memory. I mean, I wouldn’t envy all the wind parts. There’s a lot of notes.
6. What’s your favourite piece of music to listen to?
My favorite music to listen to is anything by Joe Hisaishi, the Studio Ghibli composer. That stuff. It properly just sends me into complete zen. I know that he recently wrote a triple horn concerto. If he wrote a trumpet one, I’d be very happy. Although maybe it would send me to sleep, if it was too chill. In a nice way.
7. Any tips for budding trumpeters?
Budding trumpeters. Here’s my advice. Just have fun with it. I mean, for me, it was really the only thing that sort of, like, kept me going. As I say, my first teacher, she was just so enthusiastic and made sure that whenever I was playing, it was always something that I would enjoy. Now, of course, you have to do your scale and everything for exams, but I think for me it was always just like the enjoyment. I think that has followed me through my career, everything I do mostly I really, really enjoy. And that’s why when I wake up in the morning, I’m like, I want to play the trumpet today, because it’s fun!
Our Principal Conductor Nicholas Collon says: “I’m absolutely delighted that Aaron has taken up the position as Aurora’s new Principal Trumpet. Aaron is an outstanding trumpet player whose playing we have had the great pleasure of hearing in some of Aurora’s major projects over the last couple of years, such as our Rite of Spring European tour and Shostakovich’s Fifth by Heart at the BBC Proms. I am thrilled to have such a versatile and sought-after instrumentalist in such an important orchestral role.”
Aaron will be joining Aurora Orchestra for the first time as Principal Trumpet in Aurora’s upcoming performances of Mahler’s First by Heart, including at the 2026 BBC Proms. Find out more here.
Images © Olivia da Costa