Alison Balsom studied trumpet at the Guildhall School of Music, the Paris Conservatoire and with Hakan Hardenberger. She has recently signed a three disc exclusive contract with EMI Classics, and is a member of BBC Radio 3's New Generation
Artists scheme.

Performing on a range of instruments including natural and piccolo trumpets, in repertoire from Albinoni to Zimmerman and new commissions, Alison's recent appearances have included the BBC Proms, Barbican's Mostly Mozart Festival with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, RSO Stuttgart with Sir Roger Norrington, Bamberg Symphony with Mikko Franck, and the Munich Chamber Orchestra with Christoph Poppen.

Concerts this season include the Wigmore Hall, BBC Symphony with Sir Andrew Davis, London Chamber Orchestra, and BBC National Orchesta of Wales. She makes her US debut with the Milwaukee Symphony in January 2006, and will give the premiere of a concerto written for her by the young British composer Joby Talbot in late 2006, with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the
Munich Chamber orchestras.