Yamaha artist Ross Knight has been appointed solo tuba at the renowned Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva.

It is the latest achievement for the 23 year old Scotsman, who only last year joined the Karajan Academy — the Orchestra Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, for whom he subsequently made his debut under Sir Simon Rattle in December.

Soloist

The Royal Academy of Music graduate has also been the principal tuba player of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and was a member of European Union Youth Orchestra, and has performed on numerous occasions as both a player and soloist with many leading brass bands — including Co-operative Funeralcare, Grimethorpe, Black Dyke and Fairey.

Earlier this year he was the featured soloist with Tredegar Band when he performed the Joseph Horovtiz 'Tuba Concerto' at the RNCM Brass Band Festival in Manchester.

Audition

He told 4BR: "I found out that I had won the job on the weekend and I'll start with the orchestra in September on a 100% contract.

I had to go through an extensive pre-audition process before being invited to the main audition where I had to play through three rounds on both contrabass and bass tubas, with the final round being played with the trombone section from the orchestra.

Over the two days there were around 90 tuba players in total from all over the world and I was one of three in the final round."

It's such an amazing feeling to have won such a prestigious job after all the years of hard work. I can't wait to start playing with this wonderful orchestraRoss Knight

Overjoyed

He added: "I'm absolutely overjoyed to have won such a fantastic job. I met several of the orchestra's players afterwards and I already feel at home.

It's such an amazing feeling to have won such a prestigious job after all the years of hard work. I can't wait to start playing with this wonderful orchestra."